Chapter Text
“Guys! Guys!”
Sasuke and Sakura looked up to see Naruto running towards them from the forest. They were coming back from a mission with Kakashi and there were only a few hours left before they returned home. They were all a bit tired from walking alot, except for Naruto, who was as ecstatic as ever.
“Guys! I found something!” he called.
He reached the others, cradling something in his arms.
“What is it now, dobe?” Sasuke asked flatly.
Sakura gasped as soon as she saw what Naruto had.
“You found a cat?!” she exclaimed; her voice instantly filled with adoration.
Sure enough, there was a small kitten nestled in the boy’s arms. It had white fur that was matted with dirt and a few streaks of blood, with misty gray tips on its ears, muzzle, paws and tail. Its eyes were wide in fear, the right eye a bright blue and the left eye a soft yellow. it was meowing pitifully in pain.
Naruto softly petted the kitten on the head to calm it, then turned to Sakura and nodded. “I found him in the woods under a bush all alone. Poor guy, he must be so scared.”
Sakura nodded sympathetically and gently scratched the kitten behind the ears.
“Aww, you must be scared, little one. Don’t worry, it will be okay.” she cooed.
The kitten meowed in response.
Kakashi approached Naruto and widened his eye in interest. “You found this kitten?”
“Yes, Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto replied. “I don’t think he’s okay.”
Kakashi stretched out his hands to hold the kitten and Naruto gently placed the kitten in his arms. Kakashi looked it over gently before saying, “ ‘He’ is actually a she!”
“What?” Naruto and Sakura said in unison.
The masked ninja chuckled. “She’s a beautiful girl. She has a few bruises and cuts, and she’s quite dirty...”
Sakura jumped. “Pleeeeaase, can we keep her, Kakashi-sensei? If we don’t she’ll probably die on her own!”
Naruto nodded. “Yes, Kakashi-sensei! Please?”
Kakashi looked at the kitten then his student before sighing.
“Okay fine, but provided she won’t distract you from training.”
“YES!” Sakura and Naruto cheered in unison, giving each other a high five.
Kakashi grinned. “Good. Now come on, let’s get going.”
Sakura and Naruto happily walked beside Kakashi, cooing at the kitten, with Sasuke trailing behind them. This whole time, the Uchiha hadn’t engaged in any excitement or interest in the kitten at all.
“Sasuke-kun!” Sakura called to him from behind her. “Don’t you want to see the kitten?”
The raven merely shook his head. “No.” he replied bluntly.
“Aww, why not, Sasuke?” Naruto pressed.
Sasuke just shrugged. “I’m not as high energy about a weak little creature like you are.” he replied, though Naruto could see a hint of something else in his eyes.
Naruto smirked. “Are you scared of cats?”
Sasuke glared at Naruto. “No.” he replied, his voice remaining calm.
“I think you are!”
“I am not.”
Naruto frowned. “So how come you don’t like her?”
“I already told you!” Sasuke bristled. He was starting to get annoyed with the blond.
Naruto just giggled teasingly. “Well, if you say so!”
Sakura interrupted the argument. “What are we gonna name her?”
Kakashi petted the kitten, who was now sleeping peacefully in his arms.
“We should name her something fitting. It should mean something.” he replied gently.
“Let’s name her after me!” Sakura suggested brightly.
“Are you serious?” Naruto deadpanned, “Kakashi-sensei said we had to name her something special!”
“Hey!” Sakura exclaimed in annoyance.
Naruto ignored her and turned to Kakashi again. “What do you think, sensei?”
Kakashi frowned for a moment before smiling slowly.
“Nyoko.” he finally answered.
“Sakura’s eyes immediately lit up. “Nyoko! It’s adorable!”
“Haha! Nyoko! I like it!” Naruto exclaimed happily.
Then, lingering right behind Naruto was Sasuke. Despite his claim, he wanted to prove Naruto wrong and show that he wasn’t afraid of cats (also, he was a little curious about Nyoko, but he didn’t want to tell the others that).
The boy looked at the kitten.
It’s tiny... he thought
“Sasuke-kun! Isn’t she adorable?” Sakura asked with a smile.
“She’s weak.” Sasuke answered.
“Hey! Stop calling Nyoko weak!” Naruto glared at him.
Sasuke returned the look, then gazed back to Nyoko.
“You want to hold her, Sasuke?” Kakashi asked.
The boy held up his hands and immediately declined. “No, Kakashi-sensei, I’m good.”
“Because you’re scared !” Naruto teased.
Sasuke flicked his fingers across Naruto’s forehead. The blond let out a small yelp of pain.
“I’m not.” Sasuke repeated.
Nyoko suddenly let out a meow and Sakura giggled.
“I think she likes staying with you, Kakashi-sensei!”
Kakashi smiled warmly and scratched the top of her head. Nyoko purred and she slept the rest of the way, cuddled up against the ninja until they reached Konoha.