Shattered |Kakashi x OC|

Chapter 35: Hanare

Surprise, surprise! I truly am spoiling you guys this month. I didn't expect to start Part II so soon but here we are!

The story picks up right after the Land of the Waves Arc with the introduction of my own arc. Enjoy ;)

***PART II***

Six years later

Naruto Uzumaki was not a prodigy. He was not a talented shinobi. But he sure could run like hell as he made a mad-dash through the streets of the Konoha.

He ignored the curses of the people as he weaved through the crowd, trying his hardest not to crash into anyone.

"Ah! Sorry! Coming through!" He apologized profusely as he ducked and skidded under a tray holding a large wedding cake that was carried by two men.

The cake shook as the men tried their best to regain their balance. And once they did, they just joined the echo of insults Naruto had heard his entire life.

Not deterred, he kept running. His bright blue, opened toed sandals beating against the concrete ground, the tiled rooftops, and tree branches until he finally got to the park where he knew Team Seven was meeting; a meeting he was about to be very late to.

"Naruto!" A chirpy voice called from a distance as he landed on the cobblestone path.

Sakura Haruno stood next to a bench not too far away, her long, pink hair making her stand out in the green scenery. But sitting on the bench in front of  her was another figure, clad in navy blue and white.

Sasuke Uchiha didn't even deign Naruto the privilege of lifting his gaze. The boy kept his eyes closed and his arms crossed over his chest. His legs extended in front of him with one ankle crossed over the other.

The epitome of prodigal arrogance.

Naruto couldn't help his teeth gritting as he walked over to his teammates.

"You're late, Naruto." Sakura pointed out in displeasure. All he could do was laugh nervously and scratch the back of his head as heat began reaching his cheeks.

"Yeah...that's my bad." He turned his head side to side, suddenly realizing a figure was missing. "Where's Kakashi-sensei?"

Sakura huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Late again....obviously."

Naruto felt his face scrunched in distaste, "Oh man! I rushed all this way for no reason then?" He flopped down on the stone bench— as far away from Sasuke as he could get— with crossed arms. "What a bummer, ya know."

"You still need to be on time, idiot. Or else you're no better than him." Sasuke shot at Naruto, giving him a glare from the corner of his eye.

Naruto felt the blood rush to his face, and not from embarrassment this time. "Hey! Who asked for your opinion?!"

"Not you. But you clearly need it."

"Why you piece of—!"

"Oi, oi..." A low voice interrupted from above. The genin looked up at the trees to find the familiar shape of a tall man towering over them from his perch on a branch, resting his shoulder against a tree trunk. "You boys should keep it down. I'm sure they heard Naruto all the way at the Hokage Monument."

Kakashi Hatake looked down at his genin team through his one eye from his post as they all pointed at him. "Kakashi- sensei, you're late!" All three said in an almost practiced chorus.

Their sensei waved them off, speaking to them in a lilting voice, "Ahh, I apologize. I just got lost on the path of life."

Naruto huffed. "Yeah, right! What are you actually doing the whole time you make use wait for you, sensei?"