Chapter 11 - Awkward situations

                                    

                                          
The following morning Kakashi awoke first as he jolted upright. His mind immediately thinking back to what he realized during the rather short night. He shut his eyes and rubbed them painfully hard. He had awoken with a headache and a lot of doubts and mixed feelings. "I need to know..." He said to himself. "...before I drive myself completely crazy with doubt." 
                          
Hesitantly, he touched Naruto's upper arm and softly tried to wake the boy up. Naruto rolled from his side onto his back and let out a loud snore. 
                          
Kakashi sighed and tried again. "Naruto, come on, wake up, I need to talk to you..."
                          
"Ghhhnnn, whaaaaat." Naruto replied sleep-drunk.
                          
"I said I need to talk to you, so please, wake up."
                          
Naruto sleepily opened up his eyes as he started stretching his limbs. As soon as he realized Kakashi's presence again, he shot upward in a not-so-very-subtle attempt to hide his morning erection. "Aah, Kakashi-sensei..." Naruto blushed beet red. "What-, uhm... What's up?" He said while internally cringing at his poor choice of words.
                          
Kakashi was lost at the sight. Never before had he experienced such difficulty expressing himself. "I, uhm...", "Naruto, may I ask you a personal question?" Kakashi asked politely.
                          
Naruto nodded sheepishly. "You see Naruto. As the leader of Team Seven, I couldn't help it notice, uhm, that you seem to have, or maybe had, a little crush on Sakura-chan?" 
                          
Naruto turned even more red.
                          
"I-... I know, It's not really any of my business or anything." Kakashi said feeling incredibly awkward. "But, uhm, how's that going for you?" Kakashi asked while hating how dumb he sounded.
                          
"Why? Did Sakura say something to you Kakashi-sensei?"
                          
"No, no. Nothing like that. "I was just wondering you see..."
                          
"Oh, well no. There's nothing going on there. Sakura and I are good friends and I care a lot about her, but that's it." Naruto replied a little confused.
                          
"Right, right. So, how about that Hyūga girl from Team 8? Kurenai-sensei told me she's seen hanging around with you a lot as well?"
                          
"Hinata?" Naruto asked. "Yeah, you know. She's a good friend of mine and all." 
"Kakashi-sensei, why are you asking me all this so early in the morning?" Naruto asked bluntly.
                          
"Oh, uhm, no real reason Naruto. You know, an old man's curiosity and such." Kakashi threw his student an innocent smile as he ruffled the blond's hair. "His hair is so soft and thick." Kakashi thought miserably as he stood outside the tent a few seconds later.
                          
During the day, Kakashi enveloped himself in a rigorous training session in which he practices his ninjutsu and taijutsu techniques almost non-stop in order to assure himself of a decent night's sleep. Naruto also kept busy working on his wind nature-infused Rasengan. That night, Kakashi went to bed early, as Naruto decided to stay by the fire a bit longer and sharpen his weapons.
                          
When Naruto entered the tent about an hour later, he noticed a pleasant smell. 'What is that?" He wondered in his mind.
                          
"That my young friend, would be a human male's arousal." Kurama answered as if he was reporting the news.
                          
"What!?" "What are you saying you weird fox?"
                          
"I'm saying kit, that your fellow shinobi is aroused. Or has been at least a short while ago." The Nine-Tails replied while grinning wickedly.
                          
"Are you fucking serious right now?" "Yup. More serious than a hokage with a heart-attack."
                          
"Wow." Naruto whispered out loud.