A/N: I wrote this story in the hopes of it having a powerful effect on my readers. If it makes you cry, then I've succeeded.

Summary: Slight SasuNaru REALLY tiny KakaIru and a dash of LeeSaku. Kyuubi isn't the only demon haunting Naruto and only Naruto.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters.

-Tradition-

Chapter 1: Kakashi

"You were like the father I never had. The father I wish I had now..."

It was that time of the year again. The time Naruto dreaded the most. No, not his birthday. Amazingly there was now a day he dreaded more than his own birthday. A day that still ate at him and caused him so much pain it literally caused him physical sickness. Usually when Naruto got physically sick Kyuubi would complain and then make the sicknesses go away, but he too knew what today was. Kyuubi stayed quiet as Naruto started to stir from his nightmares that he always got on this day. He knew he couldn't take away the sickness Naruto felt today.

Naruto slowly awoke and sighed sadly while turning his alarm clock off even though it wouldn't have rang for another hour anyway. He always woke up early on this day. It's like someone knew that it hurt him to get up and live his life on this day so they intentionally wake him up bright and early so he can suffer as much as possible.

Naruto slowly got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. He always acted pregnant on this day. Getting morning sickness by hurling none stop for at least an hour in the bathroom. He hated to puke. It burned his throat and left a disgusting taste in his mouth. But it didn't matter because today puking was the only thing he could do in the morning. He didn't even know why he even bothered living when he knew that this day would all ways come back. It caused him so much grief. So why did he keep living? Ah, yes Kyuubi. Naruto didn't blame Kyuubi for healing him all the time if he was facing death. It wasn't in his control any more.

After the first fight with Itachi something happened to Kyuubi's chakra that made him automatically heal Naruto when his life was threatened.

Naruto, after finally emptying his already empty stomach from the puking event, turned to the shower and turned it on. He stripped out of his pajamas and got in. He liked to take a shower because he could never tell when he had started to cry since the water pouring down on him washed away the tears, but afterwards when he got out he saw his eyes all red and puffy after crying in the shower. He tied a towel around his waist and walked back to his room. He pulled on a black t-shirt and black baggy pants. Now at the age of twenty, Naruto looked like and adult.

He didn't bother to even think about eating breakfast. He never ate breakfast on this day. He had many things to do today that were tradition. The first task was to go to the Hokage's office. She always gave him today off, but there was one task that she had him do every time on this day. He dreaded having to do it, but he knew he was the only one who would be allowed to do this job. Besides, not doing this task would break tradition, and Naruto couldn't do that.

He walked slowly towards the Hokage tower. People were looking at him as they always did. This time they weren't glaring at him as they once did; they too knew what today was. They looked at him with sad eyes; they too knew what today did to the once happy or at least acting happily boy.

Naruto ignored their pitying glances and walked straight to the tower. He nodded his head at Tsunade's assistant before going straight into her office without even knocking. Tsunade was about to yell at the person who dared just waltz right into her office when she spotted Naruto. She looked sadly at him before handing him a scroll. Without even a nod, Naruto left with the scroll not even giving Tsunade a second glance as he made his way to his next destination.

Naruto looked ahead and saw he was almost at Iruka's house... and Kakashi's...

Iruka and Kakashi had bought a small yet cozy home for themselves since they wanted to be with each other as much as possible. Naruto knew the events of this day perfectly. Nothing ever changed on today. Nothing new ever happened on this day. Each event was predictable. Everyone said the same thing and acted the same. It was tradition on this day. A tradition that could never be broken; and it had been for three years already.

Naruto slowly counted to five and once he said five just like all the other times on this day Kakashi poofed right next to him.

"Good morning Naruto! Lovely morning isn't it?" Kakashi said as he pulled out his orange little book. Walking in step with Naruto, Kakashi followed him up to his and Iruka's house. Kakashi quirked an eyebrow at his student, "Naruto, we have training today. No time for you to visit my Dolphin-Chan. Knowing you, you'll ask for ramen and you know every time you do that you're late to training, even later than me!" Naruto ignored Kakashi and walked until he was at Iruka's door and knocked. A few seconds later a teary faced Iruka opened the door and looked at Naruto with empty eyes.

"Iruka-Chan! Good morning love, did you miss me?" Kakashi asked as he grinned under his mask at his lover. Naruto and Iruka ignored Kakashi's outburst though Naruto's eyes began to slightly water as he took out a scroll and handed it over to one of two people he considered a father; Iruka being the first one seeing as he was the first one to really care about Naruto, the second being...Kakashi. Kakashi had always been like a father to Naruto and he was so proud that Naruto thought he was like a father to him and even told him once.

Kakashi quirked his eyebrow again at the scroll Naruto was giving to his love. "Iruka, what is that? Please tell me. Is it more work? You shouldn't overwork yourself like this." Kakashi rambled in front of Iruka. Naruto's eyes watered more as Iruka took the scroll and went back in his house without saying anything.

"He must still be upset that I molested him in public the other day! Oh well, he'll forgive me later like he always does." Kakashi announced happily as he followed Naruto again who was now heading towards the bridge.

Kakashi looked towards Naruto and smiled. "Why Naruto, you're going to be there even earlier than Sakura! I'm so proud that you are becoming a responsible ninja." Kakashi announced happily not once noticing as a simple tear slide down Naruto's face. Naruto couldn't help it. That single tear always slid down his face while he listened to Kakashi's dribble about being so proud of him. Like a real father would.

When they got to the bridge Naruto looked around the spot where team seven always met in the morning. Where they would rather train or go on a mission. Naruto looked sadly at Kakashi and as on queue Kakashi started walking back towards Iruka's house.

"I'll be back in a few hours. Tell the team I got caught in traffic or something. I'm going to go ravish my dolphin! You know, as an apology for molesting him in public. Bye Naruto!"

With that, just like always, Kakashi disappeared in the direction of Iruka's house. Naruto turned to look down into the river, and maybe just a few more tears escaped to slide down his face.

"Though you are not really my father, you always called me your son. That always brought me cheer knowing you accepted me as one of your own. But on this day, calling me your son is like stabbing a thousand knives through my already shattered heart."

-To be continued…-