I Can See

At the sound of footsteps, Ino cautiously poked her head in through the doorway. She stepped in front of Naruto, bowed slightly to Kakashi, and greeted him. She had actually arrived halfway through their conversation, but the atmosphere had been so tense that she'd waited until now.

Kakashi gave a slight nod in response, while Naruto gently patted Ino on the shoulder. "What brings you here? Did something happen?"

"Tch, why is your tone so different when you talk to her, huh?"

Hearing how gently Naruto spoke to Ino, Kakashi couldn't help rolling his dead-fish eyes.

"Well, that wraps up the home visit. I should get going."

Not wanting to keep watching them be lovey-dovey, Kakashi spoke up first, then walked out the door—this time, he didn't use the window.

"Wait, Kakashi."

But Naruto called after Kakashi again. Ino hurriedly tugged at the hem of Naruto's shirt. Naruto had meant to ignore her at first, but Ino wouldn't let go and stared straight at him with a very serious expression.

Naruto, who had just been so confrontational with Kakashi, now found himself forced to back down under the gaze of those not-so-sharp, even slightly watery eyes. After a few twitches at the corners of his mouth, he managed to add in a small, strained voice,

"...Kakashi-sensei."

"Hmm?"

At that, Kakashi's mood improved a little, and he turned sideways to look at Naruto.

"I have two more questions." Naruto tried to keep his tone from sounding so harsh, but it came out stiff and dry. "What's with the bandages on your right hand?"

He had noticed this unusual detail the moment he first saw Kakashi. He didn't need to think too hard to know it had something to do with the mysterious mission from the past month or so, which had sent out every Jonin instructor. That was why Naruto asked.

"What, are you finally starting to care about your teacher?"

Kakashi teased him. Naruto didn't reply, only gave him a look that said, Don't push your luck.

Kakashi had only himself to blame for that response. He rubbed his nose and explained,

"This? I got it fighting some guy whose whole body was covered in flowing magma... I'll tell you the details another time, when I have a chance."

Kakashi didn't think much of it, assuming he was simply satisfying Naruto's curiosity. "What's your second question?"

"Magma? Roshi?"

Naruto wondered uncertainly, but didn't press for details. Instead, he asked his second question:

"Did you visit Sasuke and Sakura's homes too, besides mine?"

The question seemed to come out of nowhere, but Kakashi wasn't surprised that Naruto knew who was on his team. After thinking it over, he answered,

"I went to Sasuke's, but I haven't been to Sakura's yet. Why?"

"When you go to Sakura's, will you just jump through her window into her room without letting her know, too?"

"I..."

Kakashi now understood why Naruto had asked. He was momentarily at a loss for words. Ino tugged at Naruto's sleeve again, but this time Naruto didn't give in. He continued,

"I know that as a ninja, privacy is often nothing but a joke... I've already accepted that."

"But."

Naruto spoke earnestly. "Since you claim to be our teacher, at least you should show a little more respect to me and Sasuke, two orphans without parents."

"..."

Kakashi had lost track of how many times he'd fallen silent that day. This time, though, he was truly... ashamed.

After hearing Naruto out, Ino released his shirt. Naruto glanced back at her apologetically and murmured,

"Sorry... There are some things I really can't keep bottled up."

But to his surprise, Ino shook her head at his apology. "It's okay. You're right."

"I'm on your side."

"..."

Naruto's heart gave a slight jolt, but he didn't say anything. He only nodded softly.

Kakashi silently watched the boy and girl before him, his eyes clouded with complicated emotions.

"I'm sorry." Kakashi turned around. "About today... I'm sorry for a lot of things."

"..."

Naruto didn't press him any further. He simply watched Kakashi's back disappear down the corridor.

"...Phew—"

Only after Kakashi had finally left without anything happening did Ino let out a long breath.

Honestly, seeing Naruto talk to a Jonin like that had nearly scared her to death.

Even a Chunin could hold the rank of a squad leader, and Kakashi was an elite Jonin whose standing in the village was unimaginable. She'd even rehearsed in her mind how she could ask her father for help if Kakashi got angry and decided to punish Naruto.

"Honestly, Naruto..." Ino turned to him, a little upset. "I told you to be polite to your Jonin instructor. What if he takes a dislike to you and sends you off to die one day..."

But Ino stopped halfway through.

Because she saw Naruto's expression.

It was an expression Ino had never seen before.

His head hung low, his lips turned down as if he were still angry, but his eyebrows drooped. His usually bright eyes had never looked so dim. His whole body seemed to curl in on itself, like he was searching for shelter but couldn't find any, so he had to huddle up and give himself a little warmth.

"Naruto..."

Ino couldn't explain what she was feeling. For the first time, words seemed so inadequate. "You don't have to bottle everything up by yourself... If something's wrong, you can tell me."

"Of course something's wrong." Naruto paused, then gave a slight grin. "This teacher's so unreliable, it feels like my future's hopeless."

"That's not what I mean."

Ino suddenly stepped forward, cupped Naruto's face in both hands, and firmly made him look at her.

She gazed straight into Naruto's slightly widened eyes and spoke, word by word:

"I'm Ino Yamanaka, heir to the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transfer Jutsu. I'm Ino Yamanaka, who can read minds."

"So don't lie to me. You can't fool me."

Thinking about what Naruto had been through lately—how he'd only wanted to buy groceries but had been shoved to the ground, how he could only patch his torn clothes, how his hair had grown long but he wouldn't get it cut to save money, how people had maliciously misjudged him even though he'd only been trying hard without bothering anyone, how even when he went home to rest, uninvited guests showed up... The memories made that feeling of empathy surge through Ino again. Her nose tingled, and her voice quivered slightly as she said,

"I can see."

As if to emphasize it, she repeated herself:

"I can see you. I can see your heart."

"I know what you say isn't what you feel."

"So stop pretending everything's fine."

"...I."

Why?

Looking at Ino's reddened eyes, Naruto felt as if something inside him were about to overflow. He tried to force a smile, but this time he couldn't make himself do it, no matter how hard he tried.

Why was it that this was my problem, yet you looked like you were about to cry?

Naruto slowly raised his hand and gently placed it on Ino's head.

"Don't cry,"

Naruto said softly.

"I promise you, when that moment comes... I'll tell you everything."

I'm sorry.

Naruto apologized silently in his heart.

I'm sorry you're so worried about me, but I can't tell you right now.

He didn't know how the Anbu watching him were keeping tabs on him, so he couldn't say.

"Mm."

Ino seemed to know what Naruto was thinking. She didn't get angry about it, but nodded earnestly.

Then she suddenly grabbed Naruto by the arm.

"Come on! We're getting your hair cut!"

"??"

Ino's unexpected words caught Naruto off guard. He stared at her in astonishment.

"What do you mean, a haircut? Why?"

"We're having our ninja photos taken the day after tomorrow. How are you supposed to pose with half your face covered by your hair?" Ino complained. "And it's been so long since you've seen your classmates at school... A new look is important!"

"Wait, I don't have any money!"

"I do!"

The young lady Ino waved her hand with grand confidence, brisk and decisive, quite the Admiral:

"I'm still a member at that hair salon. It's on me!"

"Wait! That's not right..."

"Objection to 'wait'! Overruled!"

Naruto, who was barely able to stand, had no chance against Ino. She kicked the door shut, and before Naruto could even swallow, she had grabbed both his hands and dragged him straight away without giving him a choice.

I've changed my mind, Father.

What you say about hardship being wealth, about how completing the journey alone is what makes it worthwhile... Those are your beliefs. I can't understand them, because they aren't mine.

Hardship is never wealth... And if it can't be avoided, there's no need to face it alone.

Because I saw him.

So I've decided not to let him walk this road alone.