Dysfunctional - 3

Sato, en route to joining his team, decided to stop and get some breakfast first. He stepped off an empty street and into a small, dimly lit diner which only had three people inside including the waitress and chef.

As he had done countless times before he settled down at a booth where someone was already seated eating eggs while reading.

"You come in here this early just so no one will see you eat? You're not that ugly you know." Sato sat down across from his temporarily de-masked uncle, who didn't bother to look up at him.

"It's not really my insecurities that reduce me to this, Sato-kun," Kakashi sighed, "I do have to find a place where I can waste three hours reading before going to meet my genin."

"I see your point. No one else would come into this dump, the food is terrible," The waitress who was wiping down a nearby table huffed at him and he grinned innocently back at her, "So um, maybe you'll buy some breakfast for your beloved nephew today?"

"No. Last I heard you make your own living as a full shinobi now, am I right?" Kakashi chuckled and then took another bite of egg.

"You of all people should know how little genin make on missions around here!" Sato replied sourly, helping himself to an untouched rice ball on Kakashi's plate and he didn't protest.

Sato finished it in three famished bites and then looked up at a clock above the doorway, "Hm, time-check is...whoa, you've only got twenty minutes left before your precious three-hours-of-doing-nothing is up...better make em' count!"

The young silver haired ninja stood and before leaving turned back to his uncle, "I've gotta go drop off my film now. Oh and...thanks for breakfast."

"...don't mention it."

*

After dropping off his most recent film to be developed and walking out of the pharmacy, Sato paused and glanced over to a livid-looking ninja in orange.

"Hey, Naruto-kun! You're up early!" A fist closed around the collar of the silver haired boy's shirt.

"Yes, to you, I guess you'd call this early," Naruto muttered, while dragging him along, "But after all the trouble you put me through this morning I hope Shino kicks the crap out of you..."

"Hey, why are you so mad? Since when do you care how late I am? And what's this about Shino...oh no," He tried to pull back from Naruto's iron grip and failed fantastically, "Um, you know...Shino's really uptight about me not showing up on time for training and uh...oh look! A monkey!"

The angry blonde didn't bother looking up.

Sato sighed in defeat and walked alongside Naruto casually, which was preferable to being dragged. "Yeah...I guess monkeys don't really live around here do they? Oh well, you caught me...time for my morning beating."

*

"Hi everyone! Sorry I slept in late this morning and then Naruto found me and there was this monkey too, so..." Sato ended his excuse, "Um, that's why I'm...late...?"

"I'm sure," Kurenai sighed, watching as Naruto marched past her straight up to Hinata to earn his praise, "Today you will only be sparring with Hinata."

"Why just Sunshine?" Sato looked genuinely baffled, "Don't you want Shino to strangle me too, sensei?"

"I have judged from that black eye you are sporting," Sato pointed questioningly at his left eye where Naruto had promptly punched him after telling a rude joke on the way over, and Kurenai nodded, "That Naruto has given you enough discipline of that sort for the day. Hinata's Jyukken will be just as effective for taming your morning habits."

He smiled, "Yes, I agree!"

Shino looked thoroughly disappointed, a feature which Kurenai did not overlook.

She turned to Naruto, who was retelling his capture of the young Hatake, "Naruto, thank you for retrieving our lost lamb. It is no simple task. Why don't you stay and train with us for the day?"

Naruto looked to her thoughtfully, "Hm, I don't know...Gaara-kun and Haku-kun won't survive long without me."

"Maybe j-just for a little while then?" Hinata's hopeful squeak was nearly inaudible.

After a short moment, he grinned, "Well...okay!"

"I will be your opponent then." Shino stepped forward and Naruto took a step back.

"Eh...no thank you. I'm kind of only here because-"

"Your reasons are of no concern of mine," Shino cut him off, "Hinata and Sato have already begun their training," Naruto glanced over to where Hinata had taken an offensive position and activated her Byakugan, "You will fight me or Kurenai-sensei."

"Alright, alright! Sheesh. Sato was right..." Naruto pulled a kunai out of his holster and rolled his eyes, "You really are wound up tight, aren't you?"

Kurenai frowned, wondering if Naruto was fully prepared to be the outlet for the young Aburame's impatience. Her concern faded after seeing Naruto spring away from a cloud of Kikai insects and counterattack. Nearby Sato evaded a near-perfect Gentle Fist strike and planted a counter-kick to Hinata's stomach, sending her crashing to the ground.

Kurenai was not the only one who noticed.

"You bastard!"

Sato's right eye also fell victim to Naruto's fist and with a wail of confusion and pain, the silver haired boy fell backwards. He didn't bother to get up for fear of being hit again, "Ugh...what did I do now, Naruto?" He was again genuinely curious, 'Why does he hate me today?'

"You can't hit Hinata-chan!" Naruto snarled as Sato watched small, shiny orange stars orbit his head. Kurenai only sighed to herself.

Hinata had regained her feet and restrained the flailing 'fist of justice' that was about to reconnect with her dazed teammate, "Naruto-kun, please! It's alright! We were only sparring!"

He looked at her for a long moment, "You were...? Oh." Naruto then looked at the boy flat on his back at his feet, "Er, sorry about that. I kind of overreacted."

"Yeah I get it...but just stop hitting me will you? You're freakishly strong." Sato stood, rubbing his newly-swollen eye.

Hinata offered Naruto the most understanding look she could muster before saying, "I'll let Sato-kun rest and then maybe...you two can train together when he's ready. I will go spar with Shino-kun now, if that's alright?"

Naruto snuck a glance at Shino who was as impatient as ever, but couldn't help but feel somewhat left out. He had noticed that for the last six years he had been Hinata's first choice in most activities, 'I guess it's something I'll have to stop taking for granted now. She's got a new team and new friends...maybe she'll replace me?'

"It's fine." He forced a smile. With a tiny nod she walked over to Shino and Sato chuckled loudly, suddenly aware of what was happening.

Naruto gave him another scowl, "What are you laughing at?"

The silver haired boy smirked, "Oh nothing! It's just that I don't think it's very fair of you to just butt in like that, Naruto-kun. Sunshine is my favorite sparring partner after all..." And as an afterthought, 'Why wouldn't she be? Shino hates my ever-loving guts.'

"Stop calling her that! Her name is Hinata! Hi-na-ta! Got it?" Naruto snapped, trying his best not to hit him again, "Why are you always so familiar with her anyway?"

"We're just close friends. But you know what?" Sato lowered his voice and smiled devilishly, "I think she likes me!"

Naruto gagged at the idea before regaining his composure. He asked with a fairly large amount of hostility, "Who in their right mind would like a person like you?"

"Hmm..." He smirked again, "I would!"