Don't take the summary too seriously though. This just me trying to dump random post 4thNW shorts into one post.

Why I kept starting new WIPs I wonder...

"Kakashi-sensei... I can't remember if I told you this before. But I really... really love you so much!"

He had to do a double take and stare back towards Naruto to make sure that he hadn't imagined the statement he heard just now. And the sight that greeted him over his shoulder was that of Naruto's face, looking so bashful as if he's just confessed his feeling to say... Hinata. (Though that part probably was very unlikely to happen anytime soon, judging by how immature Naruto still was in that department.) Kakashi chuckled.

How did things even managed to reach this point?

xxx

It started with him reminding his three kids that they still had something to do before they could call it a day and take a long needed break: undoing the Mugen Tsukuyomi. As well as releasing the Tailed Beasts. But then there was another issue, which was the state of both Naruto and Sasuke. In which both didn't seem to still be in any condition to take the trip back towards the last battlefield. Well, they should be able to regain their strengths soon enough but they probably would end up wasting another day waiting for it.

He suggested a solution to it, that he and Sakura carried the boys each to the destination. Well, the 'solution' was half... somewhat also a prank by him. It's been a while after all since the original team got back together. Not counting the earlier fights with Obito, Madara and Kaguya... this moment was finally the time when the four of them had properly reunited. He thought he could finally be able to pull a prank on his kids now that war has passed. He did miss hearing their laughter and he wanted to also join in.

But then throughout the trip afterwards, the trio had gone back to being deathly quiet. Well, it was kinda his fault anyway to ruin the good moment.

It was then when Naruto suddenly spoke those lines out of the blue. Have to say that he was taken aback.

To be fair, there were countless other times that he himself had spoken out loud telling Naruto how much he loved him. Not that he loved Sakura, Sasuke... or even Sai any less, but to Naruto... a part of him couldn't help wanting to keep telling the boy how much he cared about him. Naruto was special... after all. Perhaps it's also because he's Minato-sensei's son as well, Kakashi always felt a lot more comfortable saying this kinda stuff to Naruto. But usually... Naruto tended to freak out too much over it whenever he did. To which he already resigned himself to expect that to happen to him all the time.

So for Naruto to suddenly said these things now...

xxx

"Na-Naruto?"

He could feel Naruto's arms tightened its hold around his neck; well as much as an arm and a half could manage, as his cheek brushed Naruto's. Kakashi was about to ask if there was something wrong with him before Naruto spoke again.

"It's really a God's miracle... Like how Grandpa Rikudou said before..."

Kakashi blinked, before turning his glance towards Sakura and Sasuke but the two looked as clueless as he did.

He really hadn't thought too much about it, earlier. When the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo praised him and called him as a god's miracle to be able to be around to lead his team well to save the ninja world, he didn't really think hard about it. He couldn't imagine why Naruto would start taking those words seriously now.

"It's really... a great miracle. I'm so thankful."

"Naruto..." he started to say again.

Naruto suddenly sighed. "I can't imagine... how things would have turned out now if you're not around. If Nagato-san hadn't revived everyone..."

The world could have had a much different outcome now...

Somehow, Kakashi started to get what Naruto was trying to say. He sighed. He almost did forget about it. Yes. He remembered now. That not long before, he had actually died and left this world. He snorted.

"Looks like it's not your time yet... you still have things to do..."

Kakashi smiled.

I guess that could have been called a miracle.

Because ever since that time when he heard his father's last words, he did end up having been tasked to do many more things. Not just guiding his kids to save the world, protecting Naruto...

"The sixth Hokage needs to be you..."

He snorted again. Come to think, ever since that time he did end up taking up more and more things that he needed to do. Thanks to Obito... Naruto... everyone...

"Heh... Never thought I'd hear you being sentimental about this," he started to say.

"W-well, I always thought that you'd always be around to watch over us all! I never thought it'd be possible for you not to be around anymore–"

Kakashi made a face at him. "This kid. Are you saying that I have to keep on watchi–wait a sec. Did you say all these mushy things just because you want to keep piggy-riding on my back?"

He was just trying to tease Naruto (he's not really intending to be sarcastic about it or whatever) but seeing how red Naruto's face started becoming... that amused him a lot.

"Nuh-nawh! Ka-Kakashi-sensei! T-that's not what I meant–!"

Now that sounded more like the usual Naruto that he loved. This cheeky brat, that he always loved to tease and play around with.

"Now I really feel like wanting to give you a really big hug!" Kakashi started to say fondly.

As if on cue, Naruto started to scream.