Improvement Chapter One
A Kakashi / Naruto fanfic
He couldn't believe it. He definitely couldn't believe it! "You're WHAT?"
"I'm going to train with the pervy sage. He wants to help me become stronger so we can get Sasuke back. Believe it!" the blonde jinchuriki said matter of factly.
"Don't you think I can help you, too?" He didn't want to see his student leave with the toad sage. He may be one of the sannin, but he was Jiraya, too – and everyone knew about his antics.
"Kakashi-sensei, you are a great shinobi and all, but you have missions, you have to take care of the village while I'm not here. You see, it's better when I go with Jiraya."
"I understand, Naruto. But please, behave and don't let Jiraya-sama infect you with his strange behavior!"
"I won't! Believe it!" Naruto smiled and left his sensei from his genin-days.
Kakashi sat at Ichiraku's and suddenly felt lonely. Sasuke – lost to the snake Orochimaru. Sakura – "lost" to the Hokage Tsunade. And now Naruto – lost to the toad sage and ero-sennin Jiraya. He knew he should be proud seeing two of his students making such progress, but on the other hand… The last time he had felt that lonely was when Obito died.
Suddenly a hand landed on Kakashi's shoulder. "What about that face, my eternal rival? Well, not that I could actually see your youthful face behind that mask!" an annoying motivated voice shouted. "But I see in your eyes that there's something bothering you. Talk to me, my friend." Guy ended untypically sincere.
"It's nothing, Guy… You know, it's just… What am I here for? You know me, don't you? I managed to stay detached for so many years. I was in ANBU, I ended lives without the blink of an eye, I fought and I won. And then, there is this genin-team, more or less forced on me, and I become attached. You know? Like really attached! I was involved in their lives; saw their hopes and their dreams. It was Obito all over again, and again I failed."
There was so much emotion in this voice, and the silent tear that ran down Kakashi's masked cheek shocked Guy even more. He hated to see his best friend that desperate.
"Come on, Kakashi! Cheer up! I challenge you!" Guy shouted in his best rivalry-voice. "And I won't accept no for an answer!"
Kakashi knew where this would lead to, but he wasn't in the mood for a Guy following him everywhere he went, so he accepted. "What will we do?"
"That's the spirit I'm looking for! We will go to a pub and see who can hold his liquors! When I fail, I will run five hundred rounds around the Hokage-tower. On my hands. NAKED!"
Kakashi knew a made up story when he saw one – he told them often enough for himself – but he appreciated the attempt of his best friend for cheering him up. "Okay, let's go!"
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Six years later
"I'm home, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto bolted into the academy's classroom only to find it empty. "Huh?"
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Naruto turned around and saw Genma leaning in the doorframe, suspiciously chewing on his senbon. "Wait, Naruto?"
"Yeah," Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "I was looking for Iruka-sensei. Do you know where he is?"
"He's out on the training grounds. Shuriken-training with his class. By the way: Glad to have you back! You have to tell me what you did with Jiraya-sama! What about we'll go to a pub this evening? I'll get the others and we can celebrate your return!" Genma asked.
"That would be nice, Genma, but… I think I'ld rather like to wait with that celebration. You know, I want to see some people before everyone knows I'm back. It was a long time and… well… I just need some time to get in touch with a few friends."
"Yeah, I see. No problem, Naruto! Just tell me when you're ready! And, trust me, I won't sell you out."
"'Kay, thanks!" And with that Naruto bolted out of the open window, headed to the training grounds.
A few streets away, in a little apartment in the center of Konoha, Kakashi, the former genius and respected copy-nin stumbled out of his bed. It may have been lunch-time, but what was the point in getting up early when you got to bed just a few hours before, with the knowledge of an oncoming headache?
The last time he remembered being absolutely sober was the day when Naruto had left Konoha. Six years of loneliness had gotten to Kakashi; he was just a shadow of his former self. His friends had tried to help him, tried to take his thoughts away from his dark memories, but he wouldn't have anything of that. Even as Tsunade came to his house and dragged him out to her office to give him a new genin-team hadn't managed to get him out of his suffer.
##### Three years earlier #####
"Konohamaru and his friends deserve a sensei that is able to help them become great ninjas." He mumbled with a slight slur in his voice.
"Hatake Kakashi!" Tsunade yelled. "I won't have anything of that! You are a great teacher and our village needs your help and your knowledge! Can't you see what you did with these brats you brought on their way? Every one of them became a great ninja in just a few years. They surpass most of the shinobis in this village and they aren't even twenty years old!"
"Oh yes. And it is great that one of them betrayed his village, betrayed his Hokage, betrayed his friends to become one of Orochimaru's minions." Kakashi stated.
"And that is your only apology for disrespect your village, disrespect your Hokage, disrespect your friends?" she deadpanned. "I can't believe you, brat. I can't believe what you do to yourself. What is this all about, Kakashi? You are one of our greatest shinobi and you know that we all depend on you. Why don't you tell me what this really is about?" Kakashi had only glared, but remained silent. "I think Guy knows something, but he is too good of a friend as to tell me what bothers you."
"Yes, he is! Why don't you just let it rest, 'Hokage-sama'!" Never once had Kakashi showed that much of disrespect against his leader.
"Okay, dismissed. But don't think this is over!"
##### Now #####
It hadn't been over, that was for sure. But Kakashi had refused to socialize with everyone else than Guy, Kurenai and Asuma. Guy, because he WAS his best friend; that was for sure. And Kurenai and Asuma had somehow managed to get through to him on one of their missions they were sent on. Even if they didn't know the true depths of his grieve and the self doubts he had since he had killed Obito. And that was exactly what he thought. He had killed Obito, he was responsible for Sasuke going to Orochimaru and now he even might have killed Naruto by letting him go with Jiraya. Gods only knew what dangers they were in and if the Akatsuki had managed to kill them both.
Kakashi stumbled into his dark bathroom and managed to climb into his shower. Cold water run down his broad chest and his toned stomach, dripping down his pale skin. When his teeth began to chatter he got out of the shower, dried himself and changed into his jonin-uniform. He had promised he would help Iruka with the shuriken-training today and was already late. Well, that wasn't unexpected and he hated to disappoint the expectations the whole village had about his laziness.
After having dressed properly he headed to the training grounds, captured again in his own dark thoughts of a dying Obito and an unconscious, badly hurt Naruto in his arms in the valley of the end.
###############################
Naruto was at the training grounds a few minutes after he had left Genma in the academy. He hid in a tree nearby and observed the young children while they tried to hit a strangely familiar scarecrow with their shuriken. Iruka stood next to his students and gave some advice about how to hold the throwing weapons and how to concentrate on the enemy. With a silent chuckle Naruto figured out why exactly that scarecrow seemed to be familiar – it wore a facemask and its hitai-ate was dragged down over the left eye. The children aimed on a copy of his former sensei Kakashi!
Speaking of which… A well-known ninja appeared in a puff of smoke, next to Iruka. "Yo!"
"Ah, Kakashi-san, you managed to accompany us, and that with just thirty minutes delay. I'm proud of you!"
"Just half an hour?" Kakashi asked surprised. "I planned to be late more than an hour!"
"Yeah, I know. That's why I gave you the wrong time for showing up." Iruka stated and turned to his students. "As you can see we have the great Hatake Kakashi with us. If you have any questions about your training feel free to ask him!"
Naruto sat in his tree and was purely shocked. THAT was Kakashi-sensei? What had gotten to him to change him into the person that stood there? His eyes were empty, his hair was messier than ever before and even his aura seemed to be dark and lost. That wasn't the Kakashi he had left six years ago! Unsure what to do Naruto stayed where he was and observed his two senseis as they worked with the children – Iruka with his usual, bright smile and Kakashi detached and, well… lost.
After a few minutes Iruka left his class and headed slowly to Naruto's tree. "Hey there!" He greeted quietly. "Hello, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto greeted back, equally silent. "Who is this guy and what did he do with Kakashi-sensei?"
Iruka could hear the concern in Naruto's voice and wondered when the noisy kid grew up to become such a composed and caring adult. "I can't talk now but meet me at Ichiraku's after this lesson. My treat!"
"I'll see you there, Iruka-sensei, but today it will be MY treat!" Naruto stated and disappeared. Iruka returned to his class and couldn't wait for it to end. He had missed the orange nin and wanted to hear everything he had to tell about the last six years of his absence.
When Iruka reached his destination he found Naruto in the booth, already chatting with the shop's owner and his daughter. "Ah Iruka-sensei, there you are! Finally!" Naruto said and motioned him to a seat next to his. "So, what's that about Kakashi? Teuchi said he wasn't himself anymore?"
"That's right, Naruto. After you left he became what you saw today and nobody except Guy managed to get to him." Iruka told in a low voice full of concern. He saw the brilliant blue eyes opposite of him darken with worry.
"What happened?" he asked slowly and wasn't sure if he really wanted to hear.
"I don't know. After you were gone he began to drink on a regular basis. He forgot his duties, did only take a few missions, most of them alone and risky and made himself scarce. Nobody knows what exactly is wrong with him and he doesn't talk to anyone. He hid in his apartment and didn't leave it except for his missions or to buy more sake." This answer worried Naruto even more.
"I have to talk to him!" he said and put some money on the counter. "I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei. Please, enjoy your meal, but I have to go." With that he excused himself and vanished in a puff of smoke.
Iruka smiled to himself and ordered some ramen. "When someone can talk to Kakashi than it's you, Naruto!" he thought and did as Naruto told him to – he enjoyed his ramen.
###############################
THUMP THUMP
The annoying knocking didn't stop. It hadn't stopped since five minutes and Kakashi became angrier with every passing second. Everyone in this goddamn village fucking KNEW he didn't want to talk to anyone! "Go away!" he yelled, not even bothering to take a look at who it was that disturbed his sake-blessed loneliness. The knocking stopped and Kakashi let out a relieved sigh. That was until one of his windows in the living room exploded in thousands of pieces and a giant orange ball flew into his flat. "Whaddafuck!"
"I'm glad to see you too, sensei!" Naruto said with a sheepish smile.
Kakashi stood thunderstruck, glaring at the intruder. "Naruto?"
The whisper of his name washed away the faked smile on his face and Naruto looked at the man in front of him that once used to be his hero. The air in the small living room was sated with the smell of sake and dirty laundry, take out boxes were all over the room and there was dust everywhere. "Who are you?" he asked suspiciously and his eyebrows met in a frown.
"Naruto…" Kakashi still couldn't believe his own eyes. He was there, right in front of him! He had grown a lot – they were nearly the same height, Naruto was even a few inches taller. But the biggest difference was seen in his face. Naruto had grown up. He was an adult now – forgotten were the childish and round lines of his face, the prankster-glint in his eyes and the naïve and innocent look. Now he saw more masculine, nearly breathtaking features, calm crystal blue pools that were his eyes, and an aura that showed that Naruto wasn't a kid anymore. Now he was a dangerous ninja; just his sincere happiness was still there, mixed with the wish to help those who were precious to him. "Naruto!"
"Yeah, it's me." Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head like he had done so many times before, wearing his trademark smile. "But I don't get who YOU are!"
"You're not the first saying this…" Kakashi mumbled to his feet and refused to look into Naruto's sparkling eyes. He didn't deserve their light on him; not after all he had done to Naruto and so many others.
"What are you talking about, Kakashi-sensei? 'Don't deserve', 'what I did to him and others'… Bullshit! That's what I say!"
Had he said that loud? The sake was surely getting to him, Kakashi thought. "Sorry, I was a bit lost in my thoughts."
"You surely were! But that's why I'm here! What you need is the 'Uzumaki special cure for hopeless cases'!" That announcement wasn't exactly what Kakashi wanted to hear – in fact he was more or less frightened of what Naruto had planned. "And it starts exactly… NOW!" Naruto yelled grabbing one of Kakashi's arms while performing some seals with the other hand and in the blink of an eye they found themselves in the forest outside of Konoha on a little clearing.
"Let's start with a little sparring, Kakashi-sensei! You just HAVE to see how much stronger I am now! Even I am impressed of me! And Jiraya-sensei said when I work that hard I will surpass even the Fourth! I could surpass a Hokage! Isn't that… totally cool?"
There was no denying it, Naruto's enthusiasm was contagious and a little smile flashed over Kakashi's covered lips and even found its way into his former empty eyes. That didn't fail to catch Naruto's attention and he let out a small sigh of relief.
"So, you think you are cool?" Kakashi mocked. "Then let's see what you have learned over the last six years!" Naruto nodded and stood in his fighting stance. "As luck would have it I found this little bell in my bag. You may recognize it?" And before he could even finish his sentence, Naruto stood right in front of him and held the bell in his hand.
"Yeah, I remember. But the last time I didn't manage to even touch it. You grow old, sensei." Naruto snickered.
"Oh, big words for a brat like you!" Kakashi snarled. "Then let's take this to the next level!" With these words he lifted his hitai-ate and activated his Sharingan. The crimson red eye with the three black, swirling dots focused on Naruto and in a second Kakashi caught his bell back and disappeared.
Naruto couldn't help but grinned and went after his sensei in a rush. While chasing him through the forest he performed his trademark seals and several Naruto-clones popped into existence. "Go fetch him!" he instructed them and sat down on a branch. With Kakashi as his opponent he had to come up with a better plan than his kage bunshin no jutsu (Shadow clone jutsu), but you never knew if luck wasn't on your side, did you?
Kakashi heard the characteristical "Poof" of the clones and sped up. He had to get some distance between him and the bunshins to work on a plan. He was a little disappointed in Naruto. He had thought the younger ninja had really improved and grown up; that he was able to get the bell in his first attempt had seemed to be a proof for that. But now he relayed on his old strategies, even when he should have known that Kakashi would take his clones out in the blink of an eye. Speaking of which… Out of the blue one of the kage bunshins threw a kunai in his direction while another Naruto tried to use the distraction to land a hit in the silver haired ninja's side. Kakashi dogged both attacks and performed some seals. "Katon: Goukakyuu no jutsu" (Great fireball technique). Both clones disappeared with a "Poof".
Naruto opened his eyes as the memories of his bunshins returned to him. "Ah, that direction…"
The Sharingan gnawed on Kakashi's chakra-supply, so he had to cover his eye after he had eliminated some of Naruto's clones. He was sure he could take the rest out without the help of his visual jutsu and he needed his reserves for Naruto himself. He kneeled on the ground, hidden in some bushes, to catch his breath. Naruto's stamina was remarkable, but he had known that before. And, even if Kakashi wasn't at his best, you shouldn't underestimate him – he wasn't famous for nothing!
He closed his second eye, too, and concentrated on his surroundings. He heard the typical sound of the forest – birds, bigger animals, the rustling of leafs in the wind. What he didn't hear was any sign of Naruto's presence, or even one of his clones. Was that a good sign? Maybe the younger nin had capitulated? No, never! Others may be capable to admit their defeat, but not Naruto! And as on cue an orange whirlwind seemed to appear from nowhere. Kakashi managed to dodge the blow in the last second but Naruto wasn't willing to give him his well deserved break. They exchanged some blows, both just managing to dodge and block the attacks of the other.
After a few minutes of their fierce taijutsu-battle the opponents spotted a breach in the other's defense and landed a hit, simultaneously. Both men 'poofed' in non-existence and laughter could be heard from two of the trees surrounding the small clearing. "Your taijutsu definitely has improved, Naruto!" Kakashi complimented. "So has your kage bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto answered chuckling.
A strange noise in his back caught Kakashi's alertness and he jumped high in the air.
Whew, that was close! he thought and watched two Narutos as they knocked themselves over.
"And now, Kakashi-sensei, you are exactly where I wanted you to be!" Kakashi looked up and his breath caught. Naruto was above him, a giant globe of blue, swirling chakra in his right hand. Only now the older one eyed ninja heard the sound of the rasengan, knowing fully well that he was defeated. Without another word he took the bell that was attached to his belt and gave it to Naruto's empty hand. Naruto presented him with a huge grin, took the bell and let the chakra-globe disappear.
"I'm very impressed!" Kakashi said as the two nins were on their way back to the village. The first stars popped up in the sky and the sun had finished her way across the sky. "You really have improved and I am glad that you became that strong. But in the first place I'm just happy to see you alive and kicking!"
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei! I'm happy you appreciate my hard work. And it WAS hard work; that I can ensure you!" Naruto laughed and led Kakashi to Ichiraku's. "Seeing that I defeated you and that I didn't get my ramen for lunch because of you, I guess it's your treat now."
With a confused look Kakashi nodded and ordered two portions of miso-ramen. "That's still your favorite, isn't it?"
The younger nin nodded frantically. "It definitely is!"
It was then when Kakashi noticed the absence of Naruto's signature-sentence. "What happened to your 'Believe it!'?" he asked curiously.
"I got rid of it after I discovered you don't have to believe it. You just have to do it! But it sounds awkward when someone screams 'Do it!' every now and then. It's even worse than the 'youthful springtime' Bushy Brow and Gai-sensei always babble about."
That made Kakashi laugh; something he hadn't done for nearly seventy-two months. "Naruto, I'm really, really glad to have you back in town!"
After that they ate in silence, while Kakashi couldn't get rid of the smile behind his mask. Even more so when he saw the disappointed look on his former student's face. "What's wrong, Naruto-kun?"
"Nothing…" he mumbled. "I just hoped I would finally see what's behind that mask of yours, you know? But you ate in, what was that, a second? I didn't even split my chopping-sticks and you are already done with your ramen."
Kakashi chuckled, but became serious immediately. "You know, Naruto, the only people that saw my face were my lovers, and even those had to deserve it."
"Oh, that's easy, Kakashi-sensei. So I just have to become your lover and then you will show me?" Naruto bounced on his stool and grinned inanely.
'If you only knew, Naruto, that there are only two people in this world that actually know my face…' with that thought the once cheerful atmosphere darkened and even the ramen-shop's owner noticed the change.
"Kakashi-san, Naruto-kun; what about another bowl on the house?" Teuchi asked with a desperate grin on his lips.
While Naruto's eyes sparkled Kakashi just shook his head and stood up. "Thank you very much, Teuchi-san, but I have to go home." His voice was empty and didn't give away any of his thoughts. That was what concerned Naruto the most. After having seen his sensei in such a free and good mood while and after the spar he didn't want to see him in his own dark world again.
"Kakashi-sensei; would you mind me joining you for the evening? We could catch up on everything that happened here in the last years and…"
"Thank you, Naruto-kun, but I just want to go to bed. It was a hard training with you and I'm not used to it anymore." With that Kakashi jumped onto the rooftops of Konoha and disappeared in the darkness.
"Naruto, I don't know what exactly you did to Kakashi-san, but please make sure that you do this more often!" Teuchi said and motioned Naruto back to his stool. "And now I invite you to as many bowls of ramen as you like; you just have to tell me everything about your journey with Jiraya-sama!" Naruto sat happily and told the cook and his daughter everything he had experienced with the toad sage.
###############################
As Kakashi arrived at his apartment he closed the door behind him and locked it. The broken window in the living room didn't bother him, seeing that his 'living' room was just there to have a room to drink in. But now he didn't want to drink anymore! Naruto had showed him what difference a few years of training could make and he didn't want to be left behind by one of his students.
There WOULD come the day when Naruto was way stronger than Kakashi, but that day wasn't here yet. Not as long as Kakashi had some resources he could depend on! He had some potential left; he just had to use it. And right now, after Naruto's return, he could be the perfect sparring-partner.
If he could Tsunade to reinstall Team 7, completely with Sakura as medic-nin and incredibly strong kunoichi, they could manage missions that were S-ranked, that he was sure of!
The sun still had to show her yellow face as Kakashi was already on his way to the Hokage-tower. Not bothering with using the door he jumped through the window of Tsunade's office, gracefully landing on the carpet in front of her desk. The Hokage herself wasn't in her office, but it could only take a few seconds until… "Hatake Kakashi! What are you doing in my office in the middle of the night?" she yelled as she slammed the door open.
"Yo!" he greeted her with smiling eyes, not the slightest afraid of her blustery behavior.
The busty woman rounded her desk and tried to bring some order in her hair; she seemed to be fallen out of her bed as the alarm had gone off. "Well, since I'm already here you can tell me what you want, brat."
"I think you might consider using a new nickname for me, seeing that your favorite brat is back in town." Kakashi announced and watched as the sun lid up in Tsunade's eyes.
"He is…?" she whispered and looked at Kakashi, some small, hopeful tears glistering in the corner of her eyes.
"Yes, he and Jiraya-sama returned yester-" He was suddenly interrupted by another ninja that flew through the window, landing equally graceful on the carpet.
"Hello baa-chan!" Naruto yelled and caught here in a tight hug.
Kakashi suspected there were several reasons for the embrace. There was the happiness of the reunion, that's for sure, but while hugging Tsunade Naruto made sure she wouldn't be able to hit him. Kakashi smirked. Foxy fox!
"Brat, you are back!" Tsunade managed to say while she was fighting back the relief in her voice. For the last two years she hadn't received one little note, no message of two of her most precious people and she hadn't dared to think of them dead. Seeing her precious brat now, hugging her tightly, was more than she could bear so gave in to her emotions and hugged Naruto back while sobbing silently. "I was so afraid I would never get you back!"
"But baa-chan, how can you say something like that! I'm Uzumaki Naruto! No one can put up with me!"
"Oh, there you are right, that's for sure!" she laughed and sank back into her chair.
Naruto went back to Kakashi and stood next to him. "And I had pervy-sage with me, so there really was no match for us. You may have heard that the Akatsuki are running low on members? That may have to do with Jiraya and me hunting them down." Naruto informed, not without a small dose of pride in it.
Kakashi saw the surprised glance Tsunade shot over her desk, but she covered it even quicker. "You did WHAT? You are the jinchuriki of the nine-tailed fox! They are after you! You were gone with Jiraya to prevent you from being caught by them and what did you do? You 'hunt them down'? I can't believe what my ears are hearing!"
"That may have to do with your age, old hag…" Naruto whispered not so silently.
"BRAT!"
Kakashi chuckled and was glad that he wasn't in Naruto's place as Tsunade smacked him on the back of his head.
"Speaking of which…" Kakashi started, but abruptly stopped as he saw Tsunade's glance. "I meant Naruto's training and his improvements over the last years!" he quickly continued. Tsunade relaxed in her chair and motioned him to continue. "I would like to revive 'Team 7'."
He felt the eyes of both, Naruto and Tsunade, on his face and smiled. "After the sparring we had yesterday and the possibility of seeing Narutos progress – and I'm sure Sakura is a genius in her field, regarding her sensei is one of the sannin – I'm sure it would be a great convenience for Konoha, don't you think?"
While Naruto was nearly floating over the carpet after hearing the compliment (and the thought of the pinkette, Kakashi assumed surprisingly disappointed), Tsunade remained silent. After a few minutes she turned to speak up.
"Shizune, get Sakura please."
"Right, Tsunade-sama." The silent woman answered, appearing in the doorframe
Some moments later Sakura entered through the same door Shizune had closed before. She eyed her former and her actual senseis and the strangely familiar person next to them. "Sakura, I assign you to the newly reformed Team 7, if you agree. You would take the position of the medic-nin in the three-man-team under Kakashi-san's captaincy."
"Well, of course, Tsunade-sama! I see that Kakashi-sensei is the captain, regarding his special-jonin-rank and that I, as a jonin myself, am capable to go on high-ranked missions, but who will be the third member? The rest of the 'Rookie 9' is assigned to their respective teams, Naruto is missing and Sasuke… well…" Sakura's voice died out and another curious glance wandered over the foreign ninja who stood with his back to her.
"Ah, I see. You aren't on the current, Sakura-chan." Kakashi explained.
"Does that mean Naruto is…? No, that cannot be. He's dead! He would have said something, would have sent a message if he were alive! But, then it's Sasuke who is back?" There was much less enthusiasm in her voice as anyone in the room would have expected. Even her eyes didn't show the glow that would have been there a few years ago, when she just mentioned the name of the Uchiha-heir.
"Long time no see, Sakura-chan!" Naruto finally turned around and Sakura's breath caught.
"Naruto? Is it really you?" she whispered and couldn't believe her eyes.
She understood why she hadn't recognized him in the first place. He had grown, was taller than she was, and he hadn't just grown in height. He clearly had become a man.
'More like walkin' testosterone!' Sakura thought and eyed her former team-member. The skintight and surprisingly NOT orange-colored shirt worshipped Naruto's broad frame and the equally tight jeans left nothing to the imagination – not the muscular ankles and thighs, and not the measure of his package. Sakura blushed.
Seeing his teammate blush Naruto couldn't prevent him from remembering the time before he had left with Jiraya. The crush he had had on Sakura had accompanied him for so many years – from his childhood until he grew up and became the man he was now. But along this way he had understood that Sakura wasn't meant to be with him – and vice versa. Anyhow, he had strong feelings for the pinkette and caught her in an equally tight embrace as he had Tsunade just a few minutes ago.
"Sakura-chan! I'm so glad to see you!" Definitely one of the phrases that were used very often today, and it wasn't even 7a.m. yet.
"Naruto, where did you come from? What do you do here? And, why didn't you write one. Goddamned. Letter?" She had become louder and louder.
Naruto whimpered under her burning gaze and tried to hide behind Kakashi. "Not in this lifetime!" the grey haired man chuckled and stepped aside. "That's your fight!"
His blond student shot him a betrayed glance, but Kakashi wasn't willing to be hurt by the student of Tsunade, the famous sannin, medic-nin and probably strongest woman on the planet. The only woman Kakashi thought could be stronger was Sakura, when someone had pushed the right buttons. And Naruto surely was one of those people who pushed those buttons – his talent was to push them all at the same time.
As Naruto saw the concentrated chakra in Sakura's fist, he jumped behind Tsunade's chair and hid behind the busty woman.
"Enough!" she yelled and the pinkette relaxed a little bit. But her eyes never left the tanned man hiding behind her role model.
Jiraya chose exactly that moment to enter the office. "Oh, hello everyone. Did I miss something?"
Four pairs of eyes settled on the white haired sannin who looked rather confused. "Is there a reason for this gathering?"
"Actually, there is." Tsunade purred sickly-sweet. Everyone in the room tensed; everyone but Jiraya, that is.
"Oh, excellent. So, fill me in!"
"WHAT ABOUT YOU NOT SENDING A MESSAGE! OR YOU NOT SEING ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RETURNED TO THE VILLAGE! OR, MY FAVORITE: YOU 'HUNTING DOWN AKATSUKI' WITH NARUTO!" The racks and cupboards on the office-walls clattered and the window glasses clashed.
"Message? Return? Akatsuki?" Jiraya's voice was low and anxious. "Oh, yeah. I'm sorry, Tsuni!" he tried but was interrupted as the last syllable had left his mouth.
"Don't start with 'Tsuni'!" the Hokage yelled, and that she was louder as Naruto's laughter may have saved his life.
Kakashi could hear him chuckling. "'Tsuni!'" The grey haired man liked that sound. The hidden chuckling that is, not the ridiculous nickname.
"Team 7, dismissed!" Tsunade stated. "YOU stay!" Jiraya looked like a kicked puppy, but no one was brave enough to jump in for him. Only Naruto threw an apologetic look to Tsunade.
"Don't be too harsh, baa-chan. He really is a great teacher and an even greater shinobi!" Jiraya answered with a thankful glance while Tsunade simply snuffled.
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"So, Team 7 all over again!" Naruto exclaimed and put a fist in the air. Sakura followed him and couldn't take her eyes off of him. The slightly longer, sunshine-blond hair, the broad shoulders, the impressive back, the slender waist, the strong thighs, and, oh this ass! "Sakura, everything alright?"
She looked up in azure eyes and felt like she was pulled into the abyss behind those stars. "Sakura?"
"What? Yeah, sorry. Everything's okay, I'm fine!"
"'Kay… Was just concerned, you looked a little strange."
Those words went by unnoticed; Sakura was in her own little world again. Kakashi recognized the signs and wondered if Sakura had changed even a little, remembering the time when the same look was seen on her face every time she talked with Sasuke. Another sting went through his heart and he still couldn't catch what it was that made his soul ache. Probably it was just the bitter memories of his failures in the past.
Anyway, he was very satisfied with his idea of reviving Team 7. That wouldn't just allow him to be on better missions again and to train with some remarkable shinobis; he would be able to see Naruto on a regular basis!
'Wait! Where did that come from?' He couldn't allow such thoughts, even if they stayed unspoken! Kakashi wasn't the man that got caught in something like feelings, especially not for others! He had got ridden of emotions as Obito had died in his arms and it was better that way. When he began to allow himself the traitorous luxury of emotions, then he would become weak. And he couldn't afford to become weak – not, when he had to be strong and be able to protect Naruto from any harm! And again an unwelcome thought… Where would this lead them to?
At first it led them to a restaurant where they celebrated their little reunion, soon accompanied by some of the Rookie 9 who happened to be headed to the same restaurant.
They sat in their booth and Naruto had to tell them what he had seen and who he had killed while fighting against the Akatsuki. Even Hyuuga Neji couldn't hide the surprise in his ivory eyes and as he vocalized his respect for the permanently tanned man the rest of the youth sat in astonished silence.
"What? He IS a strong ninja! And he is a role model for every one of us. Show me one amongst us who hasn't been influenced by Naruto in his life." Neji postulated. Naruto blushed after these words and the amiable looks he received.
"N-Na-Naruto-kun…" Hinata began. "You… you look g..-good!" She blushed and dropped her gaze as if she hoped nobody would notice her.
"Thank you very much, Hinata-chan! The same goes for you!" Naruto smiled and Hinata fainted. "What's wrong with her?"
"I can't believe that you still don't get it!" Kiba growled and glared at Naruto. But he couldn't stay serious for a long time. One of the reasons may have been that Hinata 'woke up' again and laughed loudly.
"Oh, Naruto-kun! I was sooo in love with you back then! That's why I was spluttering all the time. But I'm not mad at you for not noticing. After all, that's how I got my beloved husband." Another blush adorned her pretty face. "Raidou and I married a few months ago."
"That's great news!" Naruto exclaimed and ordered a round of sake for everyone. After that the group chatted until the evening came and Naruto had heard everything there was to hear. From serious news like Gaara being Kazekage to gossip.
"So, when I get this right… Ino and Chouji are engaged. It has started as an arranged wedding but they fell in love while being chunin? That's great! And Neji, you caught you the bug-boy? Nice, I bet you two talk a lot, don't you?"
The whole table laughed, including Neji. "As you can see, the noble Hyuugas have managed to become more human!" he declared under the applause of the others.
"And I assume you have a target for yourself, Kiba? I seriously hope you didn't go and 'dynamic marked' your target for Akamaru to hunt it down!" Naruto continued laughing.
"Actually I didn't. That doesn't mean I wouldn't…" The table was laughing again.
"Hey, Sakura-chan. It seems there aren't that many choices on the marriage market, are there?" Naruto said grinning. While there were butterflies jittering in her belly, Kakashi's mood dropped conspicuously.
What are those feelings?The jonin couldn't grab them, but they scared him.
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AN: Yay for the first fanfic ever written by me! This little thing was born in the summer of the year 2011. Expect nine more chapters full of Konoha shinobi, jutsu, friends, romance, drama and angst - and everything in between! :D