Kakashi loathes complications.

He loves the adorable monsters following him around, but he's willing to admit all they do is complicate things.

Case in point: Naruto knowing about her parents. Fuck, Naruto basically admitted to knowing about the Kyuubi.

The kid's smart, even if some overlook her, and he can easily see her doing what she claimed. He can easily see her stealing classified documents and enlisting Sakura in ferreting out information, in making a timeline of events.

Hell, he can see her traumatizing a civilian until they tell her! And even better, it's not like they'd go to the police or report to the shinobi forces, not when Interrogation has taught his precious genin how to use fear as just another weapon.

But something doesn't feel right, a queasy feeling settling in his stomach, and he's learned to trust that feeling. After all, it's kept him alive.

Naruto turns to look at him, then, gaze curious as Sakura drops another dress into her arms. Kakashi only shakes his head though, content for now to let events play out, moving forward and tilting his head to look at the dresses Sakura wants his opinion on.

It probably says something that this is the most fun he's had in ages, helping his own genin team shop for clothes. It definitely means he needs to get out more, at least.

He gives Sakura a thumbs up when she whirls around in a pink dress to let it flare, he gives Naruto an approving nod when she kicks her leg up to her ear and rolls into a handstand to test her new leggings.

He even helps Sasuke pick out hardened nail polish, feeling like a real teacher when the kid looks at him hesitantly and then gets more excited when he shows nothing but acceptance.

It's scary. It's scary to be so attached to these little monsters, to these kids that lack experience despite their talents. There's always going to be someone better, always going to be someone more ruthless, and that's a lesson he's learned well.

The kids are gonna get hurt at some point, going to come close to death, and the mere thought makes his chest clench. He wants to wrap them up in bubble wrap and never let them go, and yet at the same time he wants to see them smile and wants to see them achieve all their dreams.

If this is parenting, it's confusing as hell.

The shopping trip ends in a few hours, the trio easily forking over their money, and Kakashi waits by the door as the clerk packs up their things, giving the woman an appraising glance. He listens, he knows this woman is one of the few shopkeepers that easily accepted Naruto. Maybe he should stop by later and buy something expensive?

When they finally leave he speaks, making sure to keep his movements casual as he taps a hand to Naruto's shoulder.

"We need to talk," he says, trying to sound pleasant and nonthreatening, but she gives him an unimpressed look regardless.

Sakura only looks at her teammate for a moment before plucking the shopping bag from Naruto's hands and leaping onto the roof, Sasuke following her a moment later.

"All right," his student replies, staring at him with an assessing look he last saw on Morino's face, "let's talk."

They end up standing in front of the memorial stone.

It's a bit of cheap manipulation on his part that she has to have noticed, but luckily Naruto doesn't say anything, instead settling onto the grass beside it.

Kakashi follows suit, settling into a comfortable position and watching as Naruto sprawls beside him, wild blonde hair tickling his shoulder as she moves to lean on him.

Naruto may like him but she doesn't trust him, and Kakashi knows enough to know the physical contact is yet another intimidation technique Morino and his colleagues taught her.

Still, he likes to think he's above the manipulations of a genin.

"You're lying," he eventually says, opting to skip straight to the point and avoid the mind games his precious student would undoubtedly try.

"What?" Naruto blinks her big blue eyes up at him, the picture of innocence, and Kakashi rolls his eyes in response.

"I didn't survive this long by ignoring my instincts, you know. You're lying about how you found out, and I need the truth."

The girl pushes herself off his shoulder and curls up into a defensive position, hands wrapped around her knees.

"Do you trust me, sensei?"

"Yeah," Kakashi confirms, watching her warily.

"Do you trust that I wouldn't do anything to knowingly endanger Konoha?"

"Yes," he responds, head tilting in consideration.

"Then know that I can't tell you. Let me have this secret," his student asks him, hands still wrapped around her knees. He looks at his little monster, looks at the wariness in her eyes and the way she picks at her clothes, and bites back a sigh.

"Alright. Just know that you can tell me when you're ready."

She brightens at that, aiming a teary smile at him, and Kakashi suddenly realizes something's off.

Giving into temptation, he throws himself on the ground dramatically and aims an unimpressed glare at the sun shining above him.

One of the best shinobi in the world and he just got played by a genin.