Behind Innocent Eyes

Priorities

Last Time:

The situation was quickly explained and an army of ROOT agents took off towards the Valley of the End. They just hoped that they were in time to catch Tsunade ...

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Kakashi just finished checking out his new apartment. He had everything he needed including clothes, food and a balcony. Admittedly, he cheated a little getting there by sneaking in without being seen. However, he didn't think it'd be a big deal. Now he was ready to put on his best smile and he did his best impression of Naruto as he walked out into the village.

Naruto was always the helpful sort so he decided to start his task by helping with repairs to the village. Of course, something about remembering that Naruto was nice and helpful made him spiral into the depressing realization about how stupid he was. Perhaps that's why he completely missed the unwelcoming atmosphere coming from around him until it was too late.

"Filthy demon." Someone said hatefully and that was the only warning Kakashi got before someone came up behind him.

Kakashi ducked a swing from a crowbar, "Hey-" Kakashi let his sentence drop completely when he turned and saw that he was surrounded. It was only civilians, but they all had something that could be used as a weapon and they looked furious. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh shut up you demon shit!" The normally kind clerk for a nearby store snapped.

Another person nailed Kakashi's head with a rock, "No one wants you here especially after what you did to Sasuke!" Someone in the crowd yelled and several people agreed.

"Hey, Naruto! I need your help with something." Kiba called out when he appeared on the roof of a nearby building with Akamaru.

Kakashi's jaw dropped as the entire murderous atmosphere was replaced by smiling civilians so fast that Kiba never saw, "Yeah ... I'm coming." He called back while rubbing the deep bruise on his head and quickly followed Kiba. "Umm ... Kiba, did you see ..." Kakashi let his sentence drop when he recalled a few occasions where Naruto started saying something similar. He knew there was no point bringing it up to Kiba since even Kakashi himself didn't believe it when Naruto wanted help.

"I almost missed it before when Naruto first joined my team. They're good at being two faced, aren't they?" Kiba said when he noticed the contemplative look on the fake blonde's face. when that look changed to shock he chuckled. "Yes, Kakashi, I know it's you. A lot of ROOT agents had to leave so the hokage asked me and Akamaru to watch you."

"If you know about the villagers then why aren't you doing anything? Is that what I'm supposed to do?" Kakashi asked, feeling really pissed about how casual Kiba seemed.

Kiba hummed in thought, "We could arrest them. We could force them to be nice to Naruto. What would that change for Naruto now? Would it make them actually see him as human or will he just get more hate that could go as far as the council?" Kiba said pointedly and he had to stop mid step when he saw Kakashi stop in his tracks. "Naruto has been through this for his entire life and now he has a way to live near without settling the villagers off ... or he did until the bet happened."

Kakashi paled slightly, "What do you mean?"

"To be fair our sensei and Hinata got a bit carried away when trying to find out more details about Naruto ... it pissed off a lot of villagers." Kiba said sheepishly.

Kakashi's henged blue eyes widened, "I'm here to let-"

"You're the lightning rod." Kiba said bluntly. "Naruto has handled that position since birth. Can't you handle it for a few months?" He asked, but with a tone that hinted that he really had no choice.