A ninja must see underneath the underneath

Chapter 12 - Determination

"Think about it... think about it!?" "There's nothing to think about!" Naruto yelled angrily to no one in particular. He was pacing back and forth in their base camp while Kakashi was out scouting.

"You know that's not true kit." Kurama intervened calmly.

"Yes, it is Kurama! I'm in love with him. I just know. So what's there to think about!?" Naruto replied frustrated with himself and Kakashi-sensei.

"Oh, jeez, I don't know. How about the fact that he's 12-years older? Or what about the fact that ninja like him don't tend to live all that long? Or maybe the fact that he is your sensei? Do you think the Hokage will support a sensei dating a minor student? Don't be stupid kit."

"Alright, alright, let's see," Naruto said more to himself than to Kurama.

"Yes, he is older and I am a minor. But I'm also already 17, near to becoming 18. If I'm old enough to kill people then surely people can agree that I'm old enough to choose my own partner?"

"That's the wrong perspective kit." Kurama intervened. "What other people see is not a minor's choice, it's a 29-year-old sensei dating his student and breaking Konoha's law."

Suddenly Naruto's demeanor changed. "No, no they won't see Kurama! It's perfect!" Naruto beamed. "Kakashi and me, we will be on this journey for almost two years, right? That's what Kakashi said. In two years, I will be of legal age. I'll be 19!" Naruto said with a huge grin on his face.

"Okay, nonetheless, you will still be confronted with the reaction of the Hokage, your friends, and the other people of Konoha. Can you live with people judging your relationship?

"It's more than worth it Kurama. If they are truly my friends, they'll try and understand. As for Baa-chan, we will convince her. I'm sure of it!"

"Fine kit. So how about you? Can you deal with the fact that this guy will be training, scolding, and fighting you as a sensei, and besides that will also be your lover? Can you separate work and relationship?

"Well, it might not always be easy... I know that. I still want Kakashi sensei to be objective as a teacher. We can give it a try right?"

"Sure kit. If this is what you really want then the least we can do is try."

"As for the other thing you said..." Naruto continued quietly. 

"About his life span as a shinobi?" 

"Yes. It will never become an issue. I don't care what it takes, even if I have to rely on your powers fox. I will make sure he stays alive. No matter the cost."

"Fierce determination..." The fox said softly as he rested his head on his front paws. "Admirable, and dangerous."

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Kakashi returned to their camp right before sundown. He saw Naruto sitting on a dried-up log next to a small fire with a cooking pot suspended above it. "Yo, Naruto, what's for dinner?" He asked as he flopped down beside the blond. "Rice and canned meat Kakashi-sensei," Naruto replied dryly. He couldn't be his cheerful self. He felt way too unsure, too nervous about what Kakashi would think about his decisions.

"Ran into any trouble?" He asked the older shinobi to be polite.

"Nah, no trace of shinobi's, villagers or travelers. We chose a good spot. None the less I think it's best if we continue our journey to a different location tomorrow. With that in mind, I already took the liberty of disengaging the traps we set. They were empty anyway."