‘’I need to talk to you about something’’, his voice was strict and dominant – he meant business, all right. He wasn’t going to let Tenzo walk away before he had the opportunity to talk to his previous apprentice. He desperately needed to say it. It was practically already escaping his lips.

Chapter 8 – It must grow tough roots amongst the rocks.

After getting in and sitting down while Kakashi got his former apprentice some tea, on which he insisted, an awkward silence filled the air. As Kakashi placed the two cups onto the table, Tenzo only gave the man irritated looks.

‘’ Is there something wrong?’’, Kakashi suddenly asked, as calm as ever as he filled the two cups with steamingly-hot tea. He looked at his student from the corner of his eye on his lazy, yet stern, way as he continued his previously-intended motion.

‘’I thought you wanted to speak with me about something – not make small talk?’’, Tenzo said, making sure that he wasn’t there for any of those time-absorbing chitchats, remembering how good it was in the old days – and by old days, he means a time of which he desperately wanted to forgot, not sigh and create some nostalgic scenes . Forever.

He knotted his eyebrows even further, his icy glare piercing through Kakashi’s single-visible eye. Kakashi only smirked back and sat down across his student, ‘’ All right’’.  The Copy Nin’ then returned the cold stare with his own one, his stare piercing through Tenzo’s damaged soul, his mind wandering off.

It remained silent for a few minutes, until Tenzo started to tap his fingers repeatedly and impatiently on the table. Kakashi’s lazy eye had abruptly focused onto the movement for a brief few seconds, blankly, yet strictly, until Tenzo’s voice broke through the barrier and very awkward silence. ‘’ So?’’, he asked, his voice a bit crackled as he tried to hide the annoyance, which was, despite the effort, still clearly portrayed in his tone. His thoughts were immediately put on hold and Kakashi looked up, meeting one’s intense, yet hateful, gaze. It was a very cranky one at that, and it wasn’t going to get any better, either.

‘’Oh, right’’, Kakashi said, remembering as to what his Kohai was referring to. Tenzo, on the other hand, didn’t seem so happy with it and was about to choke the man to death with his Mokuton No Jutsu.

‘’ I was wondering if you could assist me tomorrow, ‘’he paused and looked rather uninterested at his former student, whom only nodded in impatience, nudging and urging him to continue, ‘’ I needed your help, because I’ll be training with Naruto again, and seeing as only you can suppress the nine-tailed fox and its chakra from leaking out, and prevent him from completely destroying Konohagakure..’’. Kakashi stopped again, travelling off.

He had already said too much, he noted. Tenzo probably would’ve been even more angry with him right now. It seemed and sounded as if Tenzo had been his last resort to go to, simply because he had no other option or trick in his sleeve that he could use. He focused his stare at his now-cold tea, he then looked up , his visible eye almost completely closed, portraying a polite smile, ‘’ You’re essential for the boy’s training progress, Yamato’’.  

Tenzo’s eyebrow went slightly up, finding it somewhat amusing, yet slightly surprising that, out of all, Kakashi had said that. For all he knew, Kakashi wasn’t one of those touchy-feeling persons to compliment someone on doing a good job or admit it when they were crucially needed. Figuring that it was hard for him to admit, and that he was indeed secretly appreciating the fact that he was needed by his Senpai,  a small blush appeared onto his cheeks and Tenzo nodded agreeingly. Kakashi’s appearance immediately changed into a somewhat more relieved and relaxed one, the polite smile returning and now staying upon his face.  

However, the whole event had thrown Tenzo off of his guard and his anger had immediately been flushed away. By the time Tenzo had come back to reality after being so heavily absorbed in his thoughts, he noticed that Kakashi had gotten up and had been making them another pot of tea.

Tenzo looked at the counter and then at Kakashi’s back, leaving no inch undiscovered and he licked his lips while goggling the man.  All of the sudden, Tenzo had gotten up as soon as possible, which caused Kakashi to turn round, and pinned Kakashi against said counter with his own body, he then pressed his soft lips harshly and hungrily against the masked ones.