Prologue: Secrets

Remorse is cureless,—the disease

Not even God can heal;

For 't is His institution,—

The complement of hell.

oOo

Emily Dickenson

The Hokage's office had a larger group than usual within its walls, under less than ideal circumstances. The subject of their meeting, Uzumaki Naruto, stared nervously at the Hokage, Tsunade. He then glanced at the test results, his fingers shaking noticeably.

Funny how fighting against a shinobi with a blood line limit and a blood lust didn't scare a man, but a simple test result did. Rather sad, really…

"You're sure these results are right?" Hatake Kakashi asked, sitting by Naruto in the recently acquired chairs. He was playing the role of a fatherly support group, seeing as Naruto didn't really have one there at the moment. The remaining Uzumaki didn't want Umino Iruka to know about it, or the hermit Jiraiya… thus leaving Kakashi.

"I want to double check them but.. Seeing as its genetic, it doesn't look good." Tsunade sighed, rubbing her own brow as if the entire ordeal had her stressed as well.

"Did you tell Sakura or Shizune?" Naruto restlessly tossed the papers down on her desk, no longer wishing to look at them.

"No, I did it all myself…" Tsunade grabbed the discarded pile of papers, replacing them in the manila file they had come from. She slid it into a drawer which looked to Naruto, a little too easy to access… He would have liked to see those in a lock box somewhere. Naruto glanced at her, his thoughts written across his pale face. His color had been dissipating for some time now… And the rings under his eyes had only grown deeper. Many had noticed, but few had made any connection with illness.

"Don't worry. Only I have access to this. No one looks here." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"I suppose you want to suspend me from missions until we know for sure." Naruto had his fingertips pressed together in his lap, looking at the floor in obviously deep thought.

Tsunade gave him a soft look, before turning back to her usual boisterous self. "No, I don't. You're still breathing aren't you? Then I'll be putting you to work."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Godaime… That would be putting his and his teammate's lives at risk." Kakashi looked at Naruto unapologetically. They all knew what he said was true, even if it did hurt. "That isn't an acceptable outcome or loss. It'd be better for everyone if he stayed home to rest.

"I understand that, Kakashi but… I believe it would be better for Naruto's mental health if he keeps up with the team missions." Her voice told Kakashi this was a final choice, sporting the well-known tone of ' I will not be argued with'.

"… Alright. I don't agree with it, but if it's the Godaime's wishes, then fine.. I have to go on their missions. All of them." Kakashi stated fearlessly, clearly not in the least bit worried about the rank difference. "For safety reasons. They'll be running with one member unable to defend himself properly. The disease alters his Chakra use abilities, doesn't it? I'll simply be compensating for him. Less likely to get them killed."

Naruto opened his mouth to protest, only to be cut off by the Hokage. "You have a valid point. I think it's a good idea. Perhaps you'll be back on an Anbu team before you know it, Kakashi."

She always found time to scout out options to make her job potentially easier.

"Thank you. The voice of reason does win occasionally." He omitted to even acknowledge the statement about his potential reassigning to an Anbu team. Nothing he held any interest in, obviously. Naruto didn't really understand why – it had truly been an honor for him to be recommended for such a position. But, ah, back to the matter at hand. His health.

"Now, Naruto…" Turning her attention to the blond, she sat some papers to be signed in front of the two. "I do have to tell Shikamaru- it's protocol. Team leader must be aware of any potentially debilitating situations, and of any personnel changes."

"I'd really rather you didn't… I mean, we're not positive I have it or anything." Naruto immediately chimed in. Hell, he didn't want his ANBU team's captain to know about this – that's the sort of thing that changed group dynamics, that resulted in babying and all sorts of things he simply didn't want to endure.

"I have to tell him you tested for it- and tested positive the first time. You're ill, whether or not you admit to it." She shook her head, standing up. "It'll take a couple of weeks to get the second results in, just like with these. Make sure you drink a lot of water. No alcohol…" She handed him a folder with Shikamaru's name on it, and a familiar seal that meant only he could open it. Anbu thing, handy in many cases.

Naruto nodded as he took it, standing up as well. Kakashi followed suit. He took the folder from Naruto, adding, "I'll make sure Shikamaru gets it."

They both turned to leave, Kakashi going first. Tsunade watched them go, particularly keen to see how Naruto was doing. Her eyes followed him sadly as he opened the door and left her office. His cloths were hanging on him even more loosely than usual, showing how much weight he had lost within the last month.

She sighed, plopping back into her seat in thought. Tsunade spun her chair around to look out the window, eyes narrowing lightly. Kakashi and Naruto were exiting the building. Naruto was looking at the ground, and Kakashi had his hands in his pockets as he walked. It looked as if they were talking, but it was hard for her to tell from here.

She smiled softly. Kakashi really could be quite the man when he wanted to be.

oOo

"I'm going to drop you off at your house… You know, to make sure you get home okay." Kakashi stated lazily, his idea of posture a permanent slump. He was walking slowly as well, but this time it was for Naruto and not out of laziness.

"Nah, I'm meeting Shikamaru and Chouji at Ichiraku… Then Shikamaru and I are going to meet Neji to talk about or next mission." Naruto looked up at Kakashi, holding out a hand."Can't go home just yet. So it's ok for you to head on home, if you'd prefer. I can give that to Shikamaru."

"It's fine, I'll handle it… I'm sure you realize I don't agree with your going on missions in your condition… I think you should be put under intensive care. The first test was positive, I doubt a second one will claim a different result." Kakashi grumbled. "To keep bull shitting around is just going to get people hurt… or worse, killed."

"Tsunade's the doctor, and Hokage… She doesn't seem to think such measures are necessary.." Naruto retorted, feeling the blood pulsing through his temple. He didn't used to feel that so prominently, but now he could feel it every time his pulse quickened, every time his heart rate doubled… Eh, probably just Kakashi getting under his skin. In the right setting and situation, Kakashi could be very annoying. Self-righteously annoying - Funny how he hadn't noticed that before.

"You've fainted three times, and the last time, your blood pressure dropped to sixty over thirty... Naruto, that's about as low as it can go without your being dead." Kakashi shot back the laziness in his voice dissipating. "I don't want to see you dead – or anyone else - over pride."

"Pride? This has nothing to do with that!" Naruto's voice beginning to raise in volume, and pitch.

"Doesn't it? If not pride, then what exactly? Sheer stupidity?" Kakashi's posture straightened up considerably, as he pulled his hands from the warmth of his pockets to be waved in uncharacteristic irritation. Naruto's cheeks had flushed, he started to open his mouth to retort angrily, but seemed to change his clutched his chest instead, breathing shallow, heavy breaths, squeezing his eyes shut. "Ah, Damnit…"

Kakashi grabbed Naruto as he began to fall forward. He looked around him for a bench or similar to sit Naruto on. Nothing made itself immediately obvious or available, resulting in his attempt to sit Naruto against the street wall.

"I'm okay…" Naruto muttered, the grip on his chest loosening slightly. "I'm okay…" He straightened up again, the spell over, though his face seemed to have reached a whole new level of pale as the flushed tint left.

"Spells like that are exactly what I'm talking about, Naruto. What if that happens while you're ass deep in a mission? Enemy hot on your tail? They're not going to stop and help you stand up." Which he promptly did, "They're going to fucking kill you and anyone who tries to aide you."

"Oh, shut up, I'm fine…" Naruto pulled away from Kakashi, walking on his own again. "They're short, and I'm good at hiding. It won't be the death of me on a mission or anyone else."

Not one to beat a dead horse, Kakashi followed him, this time not speaking. Naruto was not 'fine', or well enough to participate as a Shinobi for the village. Anyone who said otherwise was a fool.

A/N:

Rerwrite of the old first chapter. Not great, but as much work as I'm willing to put into it. It's the same basic skellie, just dolled up... a lot. Noticed I really didn't have control of your vs you're before... Or its vs it's... glad I do now.

A/N End