Hidden Villages

I: Schooled

"Rest up for the entrance ceremony."

Kakashi lay away staring at the ceiling. Changing into something more comfortable to sleep in did not help. "It's not as if I'm even on duty with the ANBU."

Eventually the sun shown through the window and Kakashi found himself dressing in his non-Anbu set of shinobi gear and leaving his bedroom. He ate a rather basic breakfast which was easy to make before leaving his apartment. He'd not been informed as to where Naruto would be living so he simply headed to the roof of the academy and waited in the shadows.

"Don't you have the day off?"

Kakashi turned his head towards the Anbu he couldn't identify the other day. He recognized the mask, but also the way the person disguised their voice. He continued standing there with his arms crossed and narrowed his eyes. The young Anbu found himself smiling under his mask. "I don't see how that is any of your business."

"Hnn..." The person tilted their head slightly.

This action made Kakashi narrow his eyes. "Who are you?"

"You know that you're not supposed to ask a member of the Anbu that."

"How am I to know to trust you? I've not seen your particular mask before."

"I think you know the Hokage trusts me given that he let me take Uzumaki Naruto home yesterday. That's the best answer I can give you I'm afraid." The person slammed their fist into the palm of their hand. "I see. He's entering the academy today. Why not simply join the parents for the Hokage's speech? Or are you to used to blending into the shadows Hatake?"

"That's really none of your business." Kakashi turned his head, yet in the back of his head the man's words stung.

"You're right. A small tip though. Not having a life outside of the Anbu isn't a good thing."

"What..." Kakashi turned back towards the person only to find they'd already disappeared. He turned back towards the roof and saw two small girls arrive upstairs without any adults. The two children didn't realize how close he was and as such they didn't know someone was listening in on their conversation.

The conversation was honestly heartwarming making him think the fox masked Anbu had an actual point. Kakashi looked up at the sky realizing he'd made no meaningful connections. He did find his curiosity perked when the pink haired girl mentioned the fact she was an outsider, but this wasn't any of his business. As such he filed the information away.

Eventually the children and parents came up to the roof, but Kakashi didn't see Naruto anywhere. He swallowed slightly wondering where the boy might be. The Hokage stared the speech he always gave first years and Kakashi slipped away with a sigh. He headed towards the window of the first year classroom and sat down on the ledge just out of view of those inside so he might peek in.

Umino Iruka stood at the front of classroom despite the speech being given on the roof. Kakashi knew the academy teachers normally attended these meetings, but the man was not. A blond head of hair stood out meaning Iruka was in the classroom with Naruto for some reason.

Kakashi turned slightly and looked towards the sky. He felt for a few seconds momentarily jealous, but memories of his first day in that classroom drifted through his head.

"Look at how small he is."

"He's just a little kid. What's he doing in our class."

"You really shouldn't be sneaking around like this."

Kakashi felt his eyes widened, but turned so he could look at the person with his one uncovered eye. "You again."

"Perhaps I should say that." The person stood on the ledge instead of standing, but their arms crossed their chest. "Are you thinking about your first day at the academy?"