Chapter 3

The next morning, Kakashi woke up to the smell of eggs frying in butter. I don't have any eggs. Or butter. He sat up in bed, trying to shake off his disorientation. He felt a rumpled, warm spot to his left and absently plucked at the blanket. There was a smell on his blanket that immediately reminded him of fluffy white hair and big smiles: dry leaves and nutmeg. As soon as he knew Jiraiya had slept in his bed last night, he remembered what had happened. He shook his head, not knowing whether to be embarrassed or elated. Acting impulsively was not something he normally did. He'd reacted like a drowning man yesterday, grabbing onto Jiraiya like a life preserver and clinging as hard as he could.

It had been nice.

Kakashi shook off the last of his sleep and dragged himself out of bed. He got dressed for work, internally sighing about how much he hated his clothes. He'd never felt particularly comfortable in his body. The blue spandex clung and the vest was too bulky, the pants were too big in the hips and would fall down if he didn't tie them. Not to mention he had to bandage the pant legs shut or else they would billow and catch extra air, slowing him down. Last of all, his crooked forehead protector, slipping down over his sharingan eye. He didn't bother pulling his mask up if he was going to eat breakfast with Jiraiya.

And he assumed, anyway, that it was Jiraiya in his kitchen, cooking the eggs.

Kakashi padded out to see and saw Jiraiya standing in front of the stove, his hair pulled back in that signature long ponytail. He was dressed as usual as well, his red haori vest brighter than yesterday. It looked as though Jiraiya had gotten up, done some laundry, and gone grocery shopping. All before Kakashi had cracked an eye open.

"Ohayo," Kakashi mumbled. Having Jiraiya, bigger than life, in his kitchen cooking him breakfast, was something of a shock.

Jiraiya turned with a big grin. His face paint was back on. "Hey, sleepyhead!" He chuckled. "You look real cute in the morning when you're all snuggled up and drooling and stuff."

Kakashi glanced away, taken off guard. "Yes, well, consider the drool a work hazard."

Jiraiya laughed. "I went shopping!"

"I can tell," Kakashi said wryly. "My refrigerator hasn't contained anything but vegetables and meat in years."

Jiraiya looked concerned. "But you do like eggs, don't 'cha?"

"Yes, fine." Kakashi smiled, startled. He crossed over to Jiraiya and rested a hand on Jiraiya's arm. "You did a fine job. I never think of eggs, that's all. I don't usually eat breakfast."

Jiraiya looked scandalized. "Well, that is going to change."

Kakashi was amused.

Jiraiya gestured. "Now go sit down. Sit down."

Kakashi noticed a pot on the stove and felt curious, as well as slightly apprehensive. He didn't deserve for Jiraiya to go to a lot of trouble for him, especially when his appetite had always been poor except for after missions, when he'd burned a lot of chakra.

He hesitantly sat down at his kitchen table in a position with his chair against the wall so he could watch Jiraiya cook.

Jiraiya seemed content. He was engrossed in his cooking, and he buzzed with warm energy. After a few moments, he transferred a large omelet from the pan onto a plate. Kakashi noticed that Jiraiya had already figured out his kitchen. "I'm done!" He gestured dramatically. "Prepare for a super breakfast."

Kakashi blushed slightly. "Ah…"

Jiraiya brought over the omelet, two bowls of rice, and a pot of miso soup. Aside from the rice, the meal was family style, the whole dish sitting between them on the table. "And chopsticks!" He thrust the chopsticks into Kakashi's hand and sat down across from Kakashi at the table, sighing in satisfaction.

Jiraiya noticed Kakashi's hesitation. "Dig in! Itadakimasu!" He shoveled some rice in his mouth, then took a bite of the omelet.

Kakashi collected himself and nodded. "Thank you." He ate slowly, watching Jiraiya more than anything else. Omelet? Miso soup? He's spoiling me.

"How's the omelet?" Jiraiya asked.

Kakashi melted at Jiraiya's eagerness to please. "It's good. Thank you, very much. I didn't expect you to cook anything."

"I was up early," Jiraiya said.

Kakashi calculated how long it would take to do laundry and grocery shopping, as well as get most of the way through cooking a traditional breakfast. "You certainly were."

Jiraiya grinned. "So what're you doing today? Can I meet your students?"

Kakashi almost choked on his rice. "Ah…well…" He considered. "Actually, you could meet my students. But beware, one of them is in the hospital, and he's cranky."

"Sasuke-kun," Jiraiya guessed. "The Uchiha kid."

"Yes," Kakashi said. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised at Jiraiya's intelligence gathering. "If you're willing to see him, then you can see all of my students. Otherwise, a full introduction would have to wait."

"Whatever you think is best," Jiraiya said. "I don't know how bad Sasuke's condition is, so…I don't want to exacerbate his injuries."

"It's pretty bad," Kakashi admitted. "I asked him to forfeit the Chunin Exam and wait, until next year, but he refused me. He's insisted that he needs to get as strong as possible in the shortest amount of time. He's got…" He sighed. "…revenge on his mind."

Jiraiya nodded, his expression becoming serious. "For Itachi."

Kakashi looked down at his bowl of rice. "Hai." He picked at his food. "He was doing better…but then something changed. I think – I think it has something to do with Gai's student, Lee."

"Lee," Jiraiya repeated as if committing the name to memory.

"Yes," Kakashi said. "Lee is Gai's top student, but he's impetuous, also." He smiled ruefully. "Quite like Gai to pick the most fiery one in the bunch and bring the boy under his tutelage. But it's backfiring, it seems. I can smell bad things in the air. So much has already happened."

Jiraiya listened with concern, eating at the same time. He silently served Kakashi a small bowl of miso soup, and Kakashi didn't have the heart to refuse it.

He took a sip of the miso soup and found it good; salty and rich with flavor. Kakashi ate a cube of tofu out of it and then resumed his story. "In the battle against Gaara, the Kazekage's boy, Lee sustained near-death injuries. He won't walk again without crutches." He sighed. "Of course, Gai told him there has to be a way out, and I disagree, but there's nothing we can do about that now. Gai will simply tell Lee to train harder, and Lee will simply follow those directions."

Kakashi stirred his soup, frowning with dissatisfaction. "I can't condemn Gai for what happened. Lee used his judgment in the end, and his judgment was to keep fighting out of pride. It was pride, pure and simple. I'm worried about what will happen to Sasuke." He was startled at the connection he'd just made, but there it was. He was worried because Lee was Gai's top student, and Sasuke was his. He didn't consider himself a better teacher than Gai, so what if…?

Kakashi hurt inside. What if?

"I know how it feels to have to set your judgment aside and let your students decide for themselves," Jiraiya said. "I went through that, remember?"

Kakashi looked at him, startled, and then slowly nodded. "I remember."

"I didn't want Minato to be Hokage." Pain surfaced on Jiraiya's face. "I thought he was too young. I said, 'Let Old Man Sarutobi take the spot for a little longer. He can wait. We can all wait. You've got a baby on the way –'" He couldn't finish. He looked away. "And…anyway…" His voice wavered a little. He paused and took a deep breath. "He went right ahead, and he became Hokage, right on schedule, right after his marriage like he initially agreed with Uzushio…and there he went." Jiraiya shrugged. "A brief, bright burning flame."

Kakashi stood and walked over to Jiraiya's chair, leaning down and wrapping his arms around Jiraiya's shoulders.

"I know it doesn't have anything to do with the baby," Jiraiya said. Tears shone in his eyes. "I really don't – don't blame Naruto for what happened. He couldn't time things. And that man would always be there, waiting, no matter when Kushina gave birth. Or where." Bitterness rang in his voice. "He had the whole thing all planned out. Apparently. I guess so, because he got away with it, didn't he?"

Kakashi remembered the older villagers holding him and all of his peers back that day, keeping them from the Kyuubi's path. He buried his face against Jiraiya's shoulder, smelling the fresh, berry smell of shampoo in Jiraiya's hair. "I'm sorry." He was muffled, his mouth against Jiraiya's shoulder.

Jiraiya twisted and wrapped his arms around Kakashi, pulling Kakashi onto his lap and holding him tightly. "I'm sorry, too."

The ache of their common loss was more bearable with Jiraiya holding him. Kakashi snuggled up against Jiraiya, taking all the comfort he could. He kissed Jiraiya's cheek, also trying to give some comfort back.

Jiraiya smiled at him. "I worry about you. So I'm staying. I'm always staying, you hear? Just like I promised before, last night. I'm staying, so I'm not going anywhere. That alright with you? Do you think this apartment could withstand two people living here?"

Kakashi squeezed him. "I'm sure it could."

"After all, we only need one bedroom," Jiraiya said innocently, looking at Kakashi with wide eyes.

Kakashi blushed. "I'm sure that's true."

Jiraiya grinned. "And you don't mind if I do some…writing, do you?"

"No," Kakashi murmured. He glanced away, imagining Jiraiya writing right here in his living room, looking all contemplative and sexy while he smiled, holding a sumi brush in one hand. And perhaps using shadow clones to play out a scene in front of him, like some kind of risqué theatre.

Jiraiya hugged him tightly.

Kakashi felt a pulse of arousal shoot straight through him and decided it was better if he sat in his own chair. He smiled ruefully. "Gomen. I should finish breakfast so I can take you to meet my students."

"By all means," Jiraiya said graciously, helping Kakashi up. "And don't forget to finish your soup. It's good for you."

Kakashi succumbed to Jiraiya's mothering and finished his breakfast, consuming far more than he usually did when he got up. He had to admit Jiraiya's cooking was good.

Jiraiya cleaned up his breakfast as well and rinsed off all the dishes before joining Kakashi at the door. They slipped on their sandals together.

xXx

Kakashi led Jiraiya to the training field. Naruto and Sakura were already there.

"Yo," Kakashi said. He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Jiraiya glanced at Kakashi with amusement.

Sakura looked at Jiraiya uncertainly, taking in their visitor.

Jiraiya stayed silent, standing by Kakashi's shoulder and waiting for his cue.

Kakashi smiled at Jiraiya apologetically. "This will just take a moment. I want to get some business out of the way first before introducing you to my team."

"Hey, that's okay," Jiraiya said cheerfully.

"What's going on?" Naruto asked.

"I've arranged for a tutor to teach you the things you really need to know," Kakashi said. "That way you will pass the Chunin Exam on the first try. I want you to set your record straight about your skill level. The Chunin Exam is not all shows of strength. It is also strategy, and like any other test, you will be evaluated by the judges on things not readily apparent to you. You must appear a well-rounded ninja ready to take the next step in your development."

Naruto sighed and hung his head. "I guess I needed to know all of that…" He straightened and pointed at Jiraiya. "But what I wanna know is: Who is he?"

"Oh, this person?" Kakashi smiled innocently and scratched his temple with an index finger. "This is Jiraiya, the legendary sennin."

Naruto's jaw just about hit the ground. "Huh?"

Jiraiya smiled and held up a hand in greeting. "Hi."

"You're old," Naruto said.

Jiraiya sniffled and pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "I know." He made a tragic face and turned away, angling into the wind so that it made his clothing and his hair billow dramatically. "But something like that has to happen to everyone eventually. It's just…my time."

Sakura stared at Jiraiya with something akin to horror. "Weird…" She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. "Kaka-sensei, he's weird. He's not part of our training, is he?"

"Well, how do you like that?" Jiraiya said rhetorically. He glanced at Kakashi. "How come I always have this effect on women?"

Kakashi smiled ruefully. You don't have to worry about that anymore now, do you?

Naruto burst out laughing. "She – Sakura-chan's not a woman. She's just a girl."

Sakura punched him in the head hard enough to slam him into the ground.

Naruto got up, holding his head. "Ow…What did you do that for? I was only telling the truth."

"Hey, it's a Tsunade," Jiraiya said, brightening with recognition.

Sakura's cheeks turned pink. She looked at Jiraiya in amazement. "Really? I remind you of the famous Tsunade-hime?"

Jiraiya beamed. "Yeah, you sure do."

Naruto eyed her critically. "What happened to 'he's so weird'?"

"Shut up." Sakura glared at him. "He's nicer than you."

Jiraiya looked concerned. "Oops. I didn't mean to start a fight."

"It's alright," Kakashi said, drooping into his normal slumping posture. "They're always like this." He took out his Icha Icha of the day. "I'll just read this until the fighting's over with."

"How long does that take?" Jiraiya murmured.

Kakashi turned a page. "Usually at least five minutes." He gave Jiraiya a smile. "A lot can happen in five minutes, when it comes to these books."

"Kaka-sensei," Naruto whined. "Put the book down and train us. Please…"

"Maa…" Kakashi didn't so much as glance up. "If you promise to be good, I'll tell you more about the training you're going to be doing with your tutor."

Naruto huffed. "Fine. But I don't want any stupid tutor. I want Kaka-sensei."

Sakura whispered at Naruto, "Kaka-sensei's probably already decided he's going to be training Sasuke-kun."
Naruto straightened to his full height, scowling. "I know all that," he said loudly. "But that doesn't change the fact that Kaka-sensei is my teacher and I want my teacher to train me for the Chunin Exam." He slumped. "Is that so much to ask?"

Jiraiya watched this conflict unfold with interest. "Ne, Naruto?"

"Yeah?" Naruto glanced at him. "What is it, ojiisan?"

"Ojiisan?" Jiraiya protested. "I could be your uncle."

Naruto didn't bat an eye. "Okay, Ji-chan, then. What is it, Oji-chan-sennin?"

Jiraiya couldn't suppress a snort, or the smile of amusement tugging at his lips. "Okay, so you wanna be trained by someone strong, right?"

"Right," Naruto said immediately. He pointed. "That's why I wanna be trained by Kaka-sensei. He's the strongest ninja I know. He's the strongest ninja in the whole village."

"I know," Jiraiya said. He glanced at Kakashi long enough to convey a proud smile. "I trained the man who trained him how to be a ninja. Would you like to receive that same training that Kakashi got, from the man who was my student?"

Naruto clenched his fists with wide-eyed excitement. "Really? You'd do that? For me?"

Jiraiya laughed. "Really. I wouldn't promise something if I weren't serious."

It made Kakashi feel warm to hear that. Although, Jiraiya being saddled with the most rambunctious, out of control genin in Konoha…and Minato's son, who was fast maturing into a dead ringer for his father… "Are you sure?" he asked. He had to.

Jiraiya gave Kakashi an understanding smile. "Yeah. I'll do it. It's the least I can do. Is it okay with you, Kaka-sensei?"

Kakashi blushed at being addressed that way by Jiraiya and looked away, clearing his throat. "Yes. Of course." He buried his face in his book until his blush went away.

Naruto leapt into the air with celebratory glee. "Yahoo! I'm gonna be trained by one of the strongest guys in history!"

Jiraiya looked bemused and pleased at the same time. "Well…Yeah, okay, let's start today then. On your training, I mean."

"Yes!" Naruto gave Kakashi a big grin. "You're the best, Kaka-sensei! The best!"

Sakura looked a little left out.

"It's alright, Sakura-chan," Kakashi said. "I'll find someone just as suitable for you as I have for Sasuke and Naruto."

Sakura brightened a little at that promise. "Okay. I can wait a little longer, then. I trust you, Kaka-sensei."

Jiraiya laughed. "Wouldn't it be funny if we could find Tsunade to train Sakura-san? Huh? Wouldn't that be the biggest irony of all?"

Kakashi chuckled as well. "Yes, it would." Then it passed through his mind that Tsunade would be the perfect teacher for Sakura. His expression turned serious in an instant. "Any chance of you finding her before the Chunin Exam starts?"

Jiraiya just about fell over. "What? Are you serious, Kakashi?"

"Yes," Kakashi said simply.

"I'd have to –" Jiraiya frowned in thought. "I guess so," he said slowly. "I guess I could do that."

Kakashi smiled. "Great." He turned his smile on Sakura. "Sakura-chan will have a fitting teacher after all." He gestured. "Courtesy of Jiraiya-sennin."

Sakura ran up to Jiraiya and bowed swiftly. "Thank you, Jiraiya-sennin!" She straightened, looking up at Jiraiya with wide-eyed excitement.

"How do you know this Tsunade person is gonna train Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.

"She'll do it," Jiraiya said. "As a favor to me. Besides, I can already sense Sakura-san's chakra, and I know she's perfect for learning medical jutsu. Her chakra is very tightly controlled."

Sakura beamed.

"I said so from the beginning," Kakashi said in his most nonchalant tone. "But I'm not a medical ninja." He shrugged. "It would be useless for me to train Sakura-chan." Actually, he'd been convinced he was under-qualified to train any one of them.

Jiraiya nodded, his expression changing swiftly to determination. "Let's go visit Sasuke."

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura exclaimed, stunned. "He's taking visitors now?"

Kakashi gave Jiraiya a look.

"Well, I'm sure he'll see us," Jiraiya said. "You're his team." He grinned. "And I'm a sennin. I'm a famous guy. So they oughtta let me in the door."

"Kaka-sensei's said that Sasuke needs rest," Naruto said, scowling. "What he needs is to get out of bed!"

"He's not faking it, Naruto," Kakashi said, giving Naruto a frown.

"But he's Sasuke! He could get up if he really wanted to," Naruto argued. "He's not getting up because he's sulking!"

"Why would he be sulking?" Jiraiya asked.

"Because he's gonna drop out of the Chunin Exam because of that stupid Curse Mark Orochimaru put on him," Naruto said. "I just know it." He clenched his fists. "Sasuke's sulking." He pointed at Kakashi. "That's why it's useless for you to train him! He can't use any of his chakra. You said so!"

Kakashi looked at Jiraiya guiltily.

Jiraiya sucked in his breath and let it out slowly. "A Curse Mark, ne?" He rubbed his chin.

"Yeah," Naruto said. "Hey, Oji-Sennin. You've heard of one? You know what that is? Cause I never heard of that before."

Jiraiya nodded. He looked to Kakashi, his gaze sharp. "What kind of Curse Mark is it?"

"A new one," Kakashi murmured.

"What does it look like?" Jiraiya asked.

Kakashi hesitated. He felt ashamed he had been unable to tell Jiraiya himself that one of his students had been attacked by Orochimaru. He'd been too worried. Too worried of hurting Jiraiya with the mention of that traitor, and too worried that he'd failed Sasuke.

Jiraiya clapped Kakashi on the shoulder. "Well, we'll go to the hospital and check it out!" He started off in that direction. "Everyone, follow me."

Kakashi brought up the rear, shuffling after his students with his head down and his hands in his pockets.