Kakashi looked at the three of them.
"You all did well today. Go home and get some rest."
"We'll meet here again at this time tomorrow."
"All right!" Naruto answered.
He got up from the ground and looked over at Itachi.
"Itachi, want to train together later?"
Itachi shook his head.
"No, I have something to do."
Naruto looked a little disappointed.
Itachi tilted his head in thought, then added,
"My little brother is sick. I need to go home and take care of him."
Naruto stared at him in surprise.
"Sasuke's sick? I'll come with you to see him."
After a moment's hesitation, Itachi nodded.
"Okay."
Naruto waved to Kakashi and Kokoro.
"We're heading out, Kakashi, Kokoro!"
Itachi said politely,
"Goodbye, Kakashi-sensei. Goodbye, Kokoro."
After saying their goodbyes, the two left together.
Kokoro stood there, eyes wide.
Did those two seriously just leave me here?!
She turned and grabbed Kakashi just as he was about to disappear.
"Um..."
At Kakashi's startled look, Kokoro gave him an awkward smile.
"Kakashi-sensei, could you chat with me for a while? Going home this early would be so boring."
Kakashi was about to refuse.
Then he remembered what he knew about this student.
There had once been three people in her family. Both her parents had been ordinary Genin.
When she was eight, they had both died in the war.
Which meant Kokoro was all alone now... just as he had once been.
Thinking of her past and seeing the brave smile she was putting on,
Kakashi couldn't bring himself to refuse her.
"Well... all right."
Kokoro breathed a quiet sigh of relief and grinned.
"Great! Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi rubbed his Forehead Protector, feeling a little helpless.
Now that he had left the Anbu, he had plenty of free time.
But he