A/N: Hello people! So sorry for the lack of updates, been swamped with work. Also, lost motivation for writing. But your reviews and support brought me back! Short chapter though - sorry, will try, but updates will be sporadic.

Bright side: results are out, I did waaay better than expected! Unfortunately, that also meant that I spent the last 2-3 weeks researching on University courses and all the write-ups,,, I was prepared for the worst outcome (ahem retake) so wheee sudden good results sent me in a panic of dear gods i did not plan for dis waht do i do now too many choices. Toss in a bunch of personal shit and travelling a lot, and ta-da, super busy! Am tired! Anyway!

Shoutout to ActionTReaction for the really nice PM that kinda reminded me of fanfic! Thank you, thank you so much for your concern! :') That was one of my main driving factor to get my shit together and post this. Also, thank you greeneman42 for looking through this as well!

Comments will be appreciated. Enjoy!

Shift 11

Their dance continued for the week. Kakashi was pleased to see that his stalker could navigate through a forest more quietly now, although it was still too loud by a shinobi's standard. Kakashi took different paths through the forest each time, and it was promising when Midoriya could track his way back accurately. Occasionally, the boy would mark the trees, muttering to himself as he worked his way backwards. He had a good head, at least, even if his stubborn streak and trusting ways were a bit too... Intense.

As a reward, on the Seventh Stalking Day, Midoriya was led to his secluded training spot.

Kakashi led him through the forest as usual, although this time, he used a direct path to his clearing. A fair distance away from his spot, he stuck a kunai into a tree. There was a quiet intake of breath, anticipation heavy in the air.

The next moment, Kakashi was up on the branch of a tree. It was time to see what the boy would do.

Midoriya approached the kunai cautiously. He tugged at it, but the weapon was embedded to its hilt and would not budge. He huffed, looking slightly put-out. He propped his hands on his hips and surveyed his surroundings, glancing upwards quickly.

No Hero in sight.

The boy turned around on the spot. He halted, and focused on the direction where the trees were more sparsely spaced. His head tilted curiously. A few seconds later, he ventured towards the area, kunai forgotten.

He stepped the clearing. The sunlight was more intense, the insufferable heat breaking through the shade offered by the trees.

Midoriya gasped. The trunks of the trees in the clearing were marked with scorches and deep gorges. He touched them reverently, tracing them.

Kakashi enhanced his hearing with chakra to eavesdrop on Midoriya's mutterings. "Fire quirk? Is that it? Fire quirk with enhanced speed and strength? No, but these look like they're made by a weapon... That dagger I found?"

A tree or two were splintered; the remains broken into pieces of wood piled neatly aside. There were scuff marks on the ground, the grass well-trampled and singed. Midoriya took it all in with wide shining eyes, excitement building in him and manifesting in sharp, sudden movements as he raced from tree to tree.

"This... Is... So cool!" He shouted, bursting out laughing wildly. He spun around the clearing and gave another huge cheer of "I found where he trained!". Kakashi winced; the image of an overexcited Naruto overlapped for a moment before dissipating.

Finally, the boy plonked down near the base of a tree, resting under its blessed shade. His hair was matted with sweat, perspiration sticking his shirt to his back.

Kakashi let him have a moment of peace. He grinned behind his mask, palming the kunai in his hand. Time for Phase Two.

The kunai thudded a metre away from the boy without warning. He screamed wildly, scrambling away from the kunai until his back hit the trunk of the tree. His eyes were wide and he trembled. "W-w-what? Where did that come from?"

"Maa," Kakashi drawled lazily, sprawled on the branch above him, "so you've found my spot, little green stalker?"

Midoriya screamed again.

Kakashi dropped down from the tree. He stood before Midoriya, arms crossed. "To actually follow me through the forest, huh..."

"I'm sorry! It's an accident!" There was a pause, before he asked tentatively, "h-how do you know I've been following you?"

Kakashi shot him a miffed look.

The boy gasped, squeaked, then clasped both hands against his mouth. He shook his head with mortification. "I wasn't following you!" He amended quickly. "I really wasn't... Much..."

Kakashi sighed. "How do you know you can trust me?"

He squared his shoulders bravely. "You're a hero! Of course I can trust you."

"Not a hero," Kakashi muttered under his breath. He tossed the boy a bottle of water. Midoriya fumbled before catching it. "Drink."

The boy did without questions, uncapping the bottle obediently and downing it. Kakashi sighed again. He felt too old for this.

"So," the boy spoke up again, "is this where you train?"

Kakashi grunted.

"How do you train?"

"I spar."

Kakashi's short answers did not deter the boy; instead, it seemed to further fuel his curiosity. He seemed to have an endless list of questions to ask. Kakashi always encouraged a healthy thirst for knowledge - but only if it wasn't aimed at him. "With?"

"Hmm..." Kakashi seemed to think for a very long while. He took joy in Midoriya's anticipation. The boy was bridling with excitement, practically vibrating on the spot, eyes shiny and sparkling. After a few moments of watching the boy sweat, he finally said dully, "With myself."

Midoriya stilled. He frowned - running a list of possibilities through his head, Kakashi bet, looking flustered. "How?"

"Maa, trade secrets." Kakashi winked cheekily.

The boy gave a frustrated wail. A fleeting look of dejection crossed his face before he bounced back again. "Can I know about your quirk?"

"Hmm... You can."

"What?" Kakashi's answer threw him off before what he said registered. The boy deflated. "Oh. So I can know what's your quirk, as in it's not strictly confidential?" Midoriya frowned, thinking quickly. "Can you tell me what's your quirk?"

Kakashi hummed again, tapping his chin in consideration. "I can."

Midoriya squinted at him. He made small growl, reminiscent of a cute puppy. "What's your quirk?" He amended

Kakashi's smile was smug. "Not telling."

The boy made another sound of frustration at the back of his throat. It still sounded like Pakkun when Kakashi refused to give him a treat. "Aargh! Fine! What about that dagger thing you're using?" He pointed at the kunai still embedded in the ground.

The shinobi turned around to look at it for a while. "What about it?"

"Do you practice with it?"

The shinobi paused. "Hmm. Do I?"

Midoriya waited. The silence extended past what was socially acceptable. "So?" He tentatively asked, when it was made apparent that Kakashi was not going to say anything else.

"So what?"

"What's it called?"

"What's what called?" Kakashi echoed.

Midoriya threw his hands up in the air, letting out a wordless yell, before shaking his head. Taking in a deep breath, a determined expression etched itself on his face. Kakashi knew, at that moment, that he would be seeing that determined, "do it or die trying" expression on Midoriya more frequent than he would like.

Scooting around Kakashi, he made his way to the kunai. Kakashi watched, but made no move to interfere. Bracing both hands at the handle of the kunai, Midoriya pulled it upwards with all his strength. The metal weapon loosened too quickly; losing his balance, the boy toppled backwards, kunai flashing in the air.

Instantly, Kakashi was behind him, one hand supporting his back to steady him. He quickly plucked the weapon from the boy's grasp. "Don't touch unfamiliar weapons. You'll hurt yourself."

Midoriya blushed. "T-thanks. Sorry." Curiosity quickly overran his embarrassment as he peered at the way Kakashi was holding the kunai. "How do you hold it correctly, then?"

The shinobi showed it quickly before sending the kunai flying through the air. It hit the tree trunk across the clearing, the clear thunk a satisfying sound.

"Wow," Midoriya marvelled. "What weapon is that called?"

"A kunai."

"Can I learn it?"

"No."

Midoriya grumbled, but for once, did not question him. Perhaps he was learning. "Can I watch you train? I won't tell anyone!" He added hastily. "I promise. Not a word to anyone else. I just want to watch. And I'll be quiet!"

Kakashi scrutinised the boy standing eagerly in front of him. Well, there was no harm in him watching... "On three conditions."

"What?" Midoriya asked warily.

The shinobi smiled internally; finally, some doubt! The boy did have some self-preservation, at least. "One: stop following me. Two: do not touch my weapons. Three: don't eat food offered you by strangers."

"Deal! Wait - what's with that third one?" He brought up the bottle to his eye level suspiciously. Half the bottle was already empty. "Did you - did you add something to the water?" He sounded horrified.

"You already drank half of it," Kakashi pointed out. "And no."

"See! You're trustworthy," Midoriya crowed. He pouted. "And you're not a stranger."

Kakashi's skeptical eyebrow raise spoke volumes.

The boy shuffled his feet, face a deep red flush. "So..." He scratched his head shyly. "You'll allow me to watch?" He said, a huge grin threatening to split his face into two.

Kakashi tilted his head, eyes forming little crescents. "If you're here when I'm training, yes."

Midoriya's screams were defeating, and the shinobi could already a headache building. The regret would be real and deep. He could feel it in his bones.

End of Shift 11

Well I can't guarantee when the next update will be but I will try! Thank you for all your immense patience and support -hands out cookies-

I can't reply to all the reviews (tend to only address questions/suggestions, so ask awayyy), but I read all of them! Love them! Each and every comment really brighten up my day :)

Reviews:

To Some Guy In An Ambulance: Yes, Kakashi still reads porn

To IlluminatiAnimeLover: LOL have not thought of that XD I'll expect him to treat Midnight with a lot of respect and stuff? I mean, there was Anko in Naruto-verse.

To star: "how much exposition could he get?" I shan't spoil it, but watch and see~ plus small ripples make a big impact :)

To DullReign82: No, Kakashi can't summon his dogs here

To I am not here right now: Thank you for your feedback! Actually, all the action was kind of deliberate because I saw it as him itching for some action so much that it became unnecessarily flashy and active. He was just that bored XD But I'll keep that in mind next time :)

To everyone else: THANK YOU SO MUCH it's heartening that so many of you enjoy this! Don't worry, I won't abandon it...? Just slow and irregular/infrequent updates whoots

Comments will be greatly appreciated! In fact, they motivate me ;)

-littesparrowkeet