Quieter

"Team Kakashi, huh. Feels good to work with you again. Now that we are peers, can I call you just Kakashi?" Y/N teased while walking beside Kakashi.

"Well, you guys have definitely gotten stronger. That's for sure. I'd never dream that you would snag those bells," Kakashi said, "But calling me by my name is still never gonna happen."

Y/N chuckled, "I gotta say though. That genjutsu you pulled of Sasuke being injured?"

"Yeah I know it was a bit harsh but-"

"It was very stupid, sensei."

Kakashi stopped in his tracks and looked at her, "What?"

"...hey don't blame me for being honest. You know what you did wrong. Like you really wanted us to believe that Sasuke didn't grow an inch after all these years?" Y/N laughed.

"I guess so. I must say though, you perfected the water dragon jutsu. I didn't think you would nullify my attack like that."

"I learned it from the infamous Copy Ninja," Y/N said as her eyes shifted towards Naruto, whose stomach was growling.

"Oh, I forgot," Naruto said holding his stomach, "I haven't had a bowl of ramen from Ichiraku since I got back."

"That's why I told you to eat something before," Y/N sighed, "But I guess I talk bullshit."

Naruto gasped hearing her cuss.

She smiled, "Get used to it, Naruto."

"A-Anyways, let's go to Ichiraku now!!" Naruto said.

"Right! I'm starving too!" Sakura said.

Y/N watched both of them run a little forward, waiting for Kakashi to treat them. She knew how close she was to Sakura. But despite that, it felt like there was still some kind of distance in the relationship she had with the team. Maybe that's one of the reasons why she kept trying to maintain this distance. Sure, she considered them friends but she wanted to be ready for any kind of situation. No matter how much she tried to be one the leaf village shinobis, she wondered if anyone would really stop her if she found her family.

She felt another presence beside Kakashi. Jiraya was present, who momentarily looked at her and smiled. Not wanting to invade their conversation, she walked further away from the both of them.

She wanted to lessen this distance, but there was no way unless she started accepting her emotions. Let her emotions flow freely. After the attack from Orochimaru, she knew people suspected her. And the only way she could remain in the village without being affected by those looks was to shut down her emotions.

She wasn't like Naruto or Sakura. Naruto, despite his circumstances, somehow had the ability to make friends and make people believe in him. She didn't have the quality nor was she talkative enough to make people like her.

It was hard. The only people she knew trusted her were Sakura, Tsunade, and Kakashi, knowing all about her. They accepted her for who she was.

She watched her friends call Kakashi again in front of the restaurants, who responded with "I have to create and turn in the unit list for the new team. So, unfortunately, I'm out," before disappearing.

"He's probably out to finish that book of his," Sakura grumbled.

"Well if that's the case, I suppose we could call it a date then, couldn't we?" Naruto said grinning.

Oh right.

She completely forgot about his crush on Sakura. Y/N didn't want to be the one to doubt Sakura's feelings for Sasuke...but maybe it would be better this way. She wanted to go back home before she felt any worse than this.

Turning on her heels, she was about to go home when Sakura called her, "Where are you going lady?! How about the two of you split the bill instead of me. I can't eat ramen, right now."

Sakura quickly went away to another shop before Y/N could argue.

"I guess it's just you and me then," Naruto said.

"I pay mine and you pay for yours," Y/N said, smiling, "I can't split the bill in half when I'll probably eat a bowl."

"Hey! I never said about splitting-"

"I didn't say it wasn't fine. You are getting stronger so.." Y/N's eyes scanned his figure and settled on his face, "it's fine to eat however you want."

[ TIME SKIP ]

"Aw that was a nice meal," Naruto grinned, walking with hands on his belly. Iruka stopped by Ichiraku and they talked for a while. Y/N didn't know if she should talk about her condition with Naruto. That would be one of the answers to the question he asked back in the shop. Iruka saved her at the moment. He didn't know what was going on with her nightmares but her face probably gave it away.

"You've...become quieter you know. Why?" Naruto asked.

Yes, as a team member he should know about it. But...it felt like there was some kind of gap between them. She didn't feel as close as she was with the rest. Now, this was a surprise considering Naruto was the person she was closest with before he left.

She still wasn't comfortable talking about it. Both of them know their parents were a sensitive topic. Maybe she should keep it to herself for the time being.

"...Thank you I guess."

She heard his words and snapped out of her thoughts. "What?" she asked.

Naruto observed her and said, "You already passed by your apartment. I was asking if you're gonna help me unpack."

Y/N gasped and stopped in her tracks. It was true.

She was almost near his home. "Uh...I didn't realize," she said.

"I know," Naruto sighed, "As I said before. You're quieter than usual and I thought you meant yes since you kept walking with me silently. But I guess you don't want to."

She would've left saying a 'goodbye' but she couldn't after seeing his face. Oh, he looked so dejected. A small pout appeared on his lips. She didn't know he would get that upset about it.

"Let's go," she said, smiling.

"Alright!" Naruto shouted and opened the door of his apartment.

Y/N coughed a bit looking at the dust settled all over his place. "You probably should've given me the key," Y/N whispered.

"I think so too," he smiled, looking at her.

Thump.

Y/N's heart was slowly beating faster. Suddenly she became extremely cautious about her surroundings. She was standing in Naruto's apartment. Alone, with him. It wasn't much of a difference when they were children.

But they are grown up now.

She hastily kept down her bag and asked him for a piece of cloth. He opened up his backpack and gave her a torn t-shirt. "I'll start cleaning. You can get freshen up," she said taking it away from his hand and turning away.

Naruto chuckled looking at her. Well, at least some parts of her remained the same. Like the way she scurries around his apartment like a bunny. She used to make him clean his room and lectured him on 'hygiene' while cooking some healthy food for him back then. It was a relief, she still had something he could remember.

Pretty soon, she forgot about her issue with being in the same small space with Naruto alone. She was quite focused on cleaning the whole apartment. Feeling a tap on her shoulder she turned back to find Naruto.

Naruto was in his casual clothes, a towel on his shoulder with messy wet hair. "Here you go," he said. Y/N blushed and looked down at his hand holding a shirt and shorts.

"What?" she asked.

"No need to clean everything tonight. I can do the rest tomorrow. You can stay the night in-"

"Why? My apartment is on the next street," she said, "And it's not that I'm fragile now Naruto. I can go alone."

"B-But I thought we can do a sleepover finally! You said we can do that when we grow up! You said children can't do that!"

Y/N couldn't help but laugh at his naivety. "I can bet you'll never say that word in front of anyone."

"W-Well, girls say sleepover too! Why can't boys say that!"

"Ah, I'm just joking," she said.

"Then you can stay-"

"I just cleaned your living room, not your bedroom. I'm not staying," she immediately picked up her bag and opened the door, "Bye!"

She jumped from roof to roof heading toward her apartment. Ah, the night is a blessing.

No one could see how red her face was after Naruto's innocent little suggestion.