Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I'm only borrowing them. No profit is being made.

a/n: First Naruto fanfic (be kind!), hoping not too ooc. Also, my fingers just kinda typed this on their own and about half-way into the first page it took a left turn into angst-ville. You've been warned, lol. Still working through season six of Shippuden (btw, potential spoilers up to S6); my imaginings about Kakashi's history may be off the mark. No beta, all mistakes are my own.

Chapter 1

It was a relief to be coming home, after weeks in the Land of Sand. Kakashi Hatake was much more comfortable in the cool green of the forest. He had a healthy dislike of dry desert air and the huge open stretches of empty space. Who would prefer it - harsh sunlight, filled with poisonous creatures and prickly plants, with nowhere to shelter. How could one truly be shinobi, without shadows (nature made or otherwise) to melt into?

But the Leaf's relationship with the Kazekage of the Village Hidden in the Sand was such that they were required to provide support, pretty much whenever it was asked. It was a relationship that Kakashi was happy to nurture, since besides the benefit to the Leaf - Gaara was a friend to Naruto. For that alone, the jounin would have offered to help.

Though it had taken two days travel after the success of his mission, the desert sand had finally turned to rough shale, then mountainous rock. Here now (thankfully), was the forest. The air of his homeland surrounded him like a sigh … and with his first exhale of cool moist air, something he didn't recognize as tension went with it.

Leaping into the nearest tree, he moved with silent assurance into deepening shadows. It was growing late. He was exhausted after the mission and traveling for so long in the unforgiving sun. He should make camp soon. Camping alone wasn't his preference – it made defense sketchy, without someone to trade watches with. There wasn't any help for it, though. The Leaf had been short on manpower when the message from the Sand came. Three teams were returning home, but not soon enough and none had been there to partner with. Sandaime decided the Copy-nin could handle the request himself. And so he had.

Now, though, it left him to try to rest without anyone to watch his back. Thankfully, it was early autumn. It might be chilly, but a fire wasn't really necessary. He'd sleep in a tree tonight. It should be a quiet night.

It was somewhere in the early watches of the morning (maybe three am?) when he heard it. Snapping branches and the crunch of leaves … the harsh breath of someone who'd been running full-out for too long. Immediately alert, he moved into a crouch, scanning the surrounding darkness. The night was absolute pitch and what moon there was, was covered in clouds. The noise was getting closer and now, under the ragged breathing, he heard faint sounds of distress. That decided him. Lifting his hitae, he uncovered Obito's gift. The forest around him flared to life. It took a few seconds to adjust to the dichotomy of the two types of sight, so much more obvious at night.

"Kage bushin no jutsu!"

Chakra flared weakly after that familiar voice flew into the night, drawing Kakashi's attention east of his position. However, instead of the chorus of Naruto shadow clones calling to each other that the jounin expected to hear after the jutsu (from long experience with the ridiculously chakra abundant teen), there was only a lone strangled curse, edged with desperation. A clash of metal and a sharp cry. But Kakashi was already moving, had been since Naruto had called out his jutsu. By the time the sound of kunai meeting rang out, he had slipped behind the boy's opponent and slit his throat.

Naruto barely paused in recognition of the jounin, before turning to face the next opponent - a lean faced man with a jagged scar from his temple to chin. It wasn't a good look. Distracted by Kakashi's sudden appearance, the man wasn't quite quick enough to prevent a matching mark on the other side ... one he didn't live long enough to see a scar from.

Naruto faded back as the man fell and Kakashi came around to a more defensible position. Assessing his companion, the jounin could see that not only was Naruto unusually winded, his hair and shoulders were lightly dusted with something. It shimmered faintly, in the moonlight. There wasn't time to think about it, however. Now back to back with the jinchuriki, Kakashi asked, "How many?"

"Not sure ..." The teen's breathing was coming in gasps. The normal, brashly confident tone was undercut by an emotion that in anyone else, Kakashi would have named fear.

The jounin frowned. He could sense more enemy shinobi, spreading out to surround them. He wasn't sure how many yet, but malicious chakra was polluting the air like mist around them. "Can you continue?"

A short sound, almost a laugh. "Not sure." His eyebrows lifted. He couldn't remember a time when Naruto had been uncertain in anything. No, that was an answer he hadn't expected, though perhaps he should have. He could feel a faint trembling in the shoulders pressing against his, a trembling that said the boy was at his limit.

How long had he been fighting? For Naruto to be so drained, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. He said so.

Again that sound, the one that was a laugh but not. It bothered the older man. "Sorry, Kaka-sensei. I don't think I can …"and Kakashi's eyes widened, but he was already turning as Naruto collapsed without another word, all golden hair and bright orange and falling gracelessly into the leaves on the forest floor. The rogue nin around them saw the opening for what it was. The jounin could almost feel the flash of eager anticipation. As they surged forward, the first of them breaking through the trees nearest the two leaf shinobi, Kakashi knelt - already forming seals - and swept an arm around his former student's chest. He heard only the beginning of the enemy's shout before they teleported, disappearing in a billowing gust of smoke.

.. .. ..

The safe house was silent and deserted and Kakashi was happy for that. It meant it was still safe. A quick glance around was all it took to reacquaint himself. After making sure to close and reactivate the wards on the door, he lay Naruto carefully on the couch in the living area and found one of the bedrooms. Dusty with disuse, he spent a moment readying the bed. Then, removing Naruto's jacket, covered in dead leaves and other detritus from the boy's fall, he laid it over the back of the couch. The teen didn't stir when he took off his jacket, not even a little. Kakashi frowned, worried. Pulling off one of his gloves, he lay his palm on Naruto's forehead, "Hot," he muttered, pulling the glove back on. His frown turned to a scowl. Not good. Exhaling, he moved his unconscious companion to the bed and spent a moment thinking about what to do about the situation. His experience with the jinchuriki hadn't started until after the academy, but he couldn't recall a time when Naruto had been ill. Hurt, maybe. Wrapped in bandages, certainly. An unavoidable thing in the life of a shinobi. With Naruto though, bandages, even crutches, never lasted long. The boy's capacity for healing was irritatingly robust.

But a fever? Never.

A cloth soaked in cool water would help. Checking the kitchenette, he took a small towel and turned on the tap. Brownish water sputtered, then started to flow. He pulled the cloth away quickly. Okay for the bathroom maybe, but cooking and drinking? Not so much. There was a stream nearby that would do fine, but Kakashi was hesitant to leave Naruto. There was no help for it, though. He checked his own water skin, already knowing what he'd find. He had just come from a desert, after all. There was barely a few swallows left. With one last glance at the unconscious genin, he left, pausing only to ensure the house was properly secured before he moved back into the forest.

The trip to the stream was more fruitful than he expected. On the way there, he discovered signs of recent passage. Deciding their safety was more important than preserving chakra for the moment, a brief glance with the sharingan revealed the same malevolent chakra from earlier. Here then, was the rest of the nin Naruto had been fighting. It was good to know, but rotten luck that the safe house was apparently hidden a stone's throw away from the enemy shinobi's camp. It meant they'd not be able to wander freely. It also meant the longer they stayed, the greater the risk they'd have to confront them.

Cloaking his chakra and hiding his form, he watched two of the enemy complete a perimeter check. It wasn't a small camp. There were fifteen shinobi, though four more (bringing it to 19) were on the ground, unmoving and covered from head to toe with canvas. The bodies were obviously there to be disposed of to preserve their secrets. Scar-face, the man Kakashi had killed, was surely among them, meaning the other three were likely to Naruto's credit.

Pulling back from that position, Kakashi continued to the stream. At least they weren't directly between the house and the only source of fresh water for miles. He should be able to avoid them. Taking extra care to gather as much water as possible, he headed back to the cabin. Naruto was still out when he returned, which was as troubling as it was relieving. Another check said the teen was still burning up. His visible eye narrowing with worry, he quickly saturated a rag, laying it on the boy's forehead. Sighing, he took a swig of water and tipped his head to either side, stretching out the aching muscles of his neck. Not enough sleep.

This was all happening too soon after being in the Sand. He hadn't recovered yet from the chakra he'd used and now he could feel what little was left, sputtering like a candle running out of wax. Heaving a deep breath, he tipped his head back against the wall. He'd just rest here for a few minutes, then check on Naruto again.

Kakashi opened his eyes. Naruto was shifting on the bed restlessly. "No, no, no! Ero-sannin … please. Please … I'm sorry ..." Those words immediately pulled Kakashi from where he sat, over to the bed to check on him. Naruto sounded so much younger than he actually was - the words tumbling from him were frightened. Kakashi wondered what was in that sleeping mind and knew he should dismiss it. Though dreams were often fears we didn't want to name and truths were often twisted, those words were still worrying. The jounin dampened the cloth again, swinging it briefly in the air to cool it before putting it back.

He checked the quality of the light in the room and swore at himself. Several hours had passed. The sun must be cresting the horizon. He hadn't meant to sleep so long. But the chakra in his system had been guttering – he felt better, if not fully restored.

He should try to get Naruto to eat a little, if possible. At least drink. He ran a hand over his own face, unconscious of the mask he still wore, chasing the last dregs of fatigue away. "Naruto." Keeping his voice low, he gripped the boy's shoulder. Sleeping uneasily, the sounds Naruto made tugged something tight in the jounin's chest. He was still dreaming. "Naruto, wake up." He expected to have to call him again, lost as the boy was in that feverish sleep, but finally the genin opened his eyes. Blue eyes moved quickly around the room, the disoriented look in them growing until they finally settled on him. Recognition and something like relief made its way across the young face.

"Kaka-sensei." His voice was shaky and he raised an unsteady hand to run his fingers through his hair. "What happened?"

"Mm. That's what I'd like to know." He lifted his water flask. "But first, drink." Naruto frowned at that, but sat up, doing as he was told. His hands were still disturbingly unsteady so Kakashi helped him. Setting the water down, he looked at the young shinobi in front of him. He was still not well, that was obvious. And he had obviously somehow stumbled into trouble in the forest. But there was something else, hovering under the surface, something behind his eyes and the downturned corners of his mouth. Kakashi wanted to know what it was. "Naruto, why are you alone - where is Jiraiya-sensei?"

Blue eyes darted up to his and fell again. "Ero-sannin?" The nickname was a whisper on Naruto's lips and the genin wouldn't hold his gaze. Kakashi felt his stomach drop.

"Naruto, what is it?"

"He … he … Jiraiya-sensei, he's -" and Naruto's eyes squeezed shut, his fists clenched - and he kind of curled into himself, shuddering. If he had been concerned before, he was alarmed now. Kakashi tried to wait for him, wanting to give him the space to explain, but Naruto was shaking his head and when his breath hitched and tears overflowed, the jounin reached up and wrapped his arms around those shaking shoulders. The awful burn of fever was still there, showing in the flush in the boy's cheeks and in the almost searing heat of the fingers that gripped Kakashi's forearms. Added to that worry, fear for his old friend was hollow in his chest.

"What's happened, Naruto. Where's Jiraiya?"

Naruto didn't answer for a long time, ragged breaths counting out heart beats. "I … I hurt him, Kakashi-sensei."

Naruto hurt Jiraiya? The thought was ludicrous, unless … Kyuubi. "Where, Naruto?" His mind was already sifting through possibilities, calculating what he'd need to do to get ready to leave. Fearing for his friend, but also for the young shinobi in front of him, whose skin was still burning bright with fever and more upset than the jounin had ever seen him. "Where, Naruto," he pulled back enough to meet those skittish blue eyes with his own. "Where is Jiraiya … how badly hurt is he?"

Hearing the jagged concern in Kakashi's voice, Naruto seemed to come to himself. He took a shaking breath and pulled away, lying back down. "He's … he's in the hospital. They said he'd just be there a few more days," and he looked up at the ceiling, saying, "He woke up yesterday, he smiled at me and said it was okay and he'd be out in no time. We'd start training again -" Tears tipped over as he blinked, running across his temple to catch in his hair. "But his chest, Kakashi. It was covered in bandages, and, and it was my fault …"

"No, Naruto. You can't think that." Knowing now that Jiraiya would be okay, the clench of worry had loosened and his focus returned entirely to the boy in front of him. Naruto was shuddering now, almost uncontrollably. Kakashi knew it was as much from sickness as distress.

"I couldn't wait in the room anymore. I just needed to get away from the city for a few hours, but then those nin -" He breathed in slowly and out again, but his teeth had begun to chatter. Those blue eyes lost focus for a moment and he dragged them back to Kakashi's. "What's wrong with me?"

"You're sick, Naruto." Kakashi was pushing him down now, reaching to pull the standard issue grey blanket up over him. "You're running a fever."

"Sick?" He laughed weakly. "I don't get sick. I've never been sick."

Kakashi had suspected that, maybe even known it, but to hear it - "Not once? Everyone gets sick sometimes, Naruto." That feverish gaze sought his, and Kakashi realized he'd accidentally pointed out another thing that separated Naruto from everyone else. "Na, Naruto," and he smiled, letting the grin reach his uncovered eye. "Well, there's a first time for everything. You'll just have to suffer through this like the rest of us." He put a hand on the other's arm. "Close your eyes. Rest," and when the genin scowled at him, he huffed a laugh. "It's terribly boring to be sick, Naruto. You need to give yourself time to get better." Kakashi could still feel the heat radiating from him, through the cloth of his shirt. Boring for Naruto, perhaps. He took a moment to be grateful for those few hours of sleep. Likely, there wouldn't be any more of that.

He didn't want to strain the boy with a full meal, so gave him broth from a soup he'd made from rabbit and some roots he had found on the way back from the stream. Surprisingly quickly, the genin was asleep again. Kakashi checked the wards again – they were undisturbed. He took a moment to fully check the house. Two bedrooms, a bathroom and living area. A tiny area for a kitchen, made up of nothing more than a sink and a hotplate. Canned food and rations, in a cupboard above the counter.

Small and spare. If Naruto were awake, he'd feel right at home.

He waited a few more hours, checking on the younger man frequently. Though he was still too warm, the fever seemed to have calmed. He slept fitfully, but it seemed they were out of the woods. Finally, concern made the jounin leave the house to check the area. A quick reconnaissance showed no change in the enemy camp (the bodies were gone now; they must have worked hard to cleanse them so quickly). Seeing those shinobi served only to confirm that with Naruto ill, they shouldn't move until he'd recovered more.

Kakashi returned to the safe house. The boy was still sleeping and still seemed better than when they'd arrived. The jounin decided to risk a nap. With only the two of them, he would have to depend on the wards to warn him if they were attacked. Making up the other bed, he lay down and closed his eyes, and as a long experience had taught him, immediately slept.