Gasping, my eyes flew open. I felt the pain in my side. Hissing, I grabbed my side. Looking down…there was nothing there. Frowning, I sat up as the early morning sun shone in my window. There was knocking on my door. Slipping on a shirt, I slipped up my mask. Opening the door, I dropped my hand down from my side. Naruto was standing there. He had a paper bag in his arm. I raised an eyebrow.

"So, I figured I needed to apologize." Naruto said as he walked in, uninvited, and past me. Frowning, I shut the door. Following the blonde, I crossed my arms. That allowed me to rub my side again. Could this be an after effect of the poison?

"Yea, so I figured I owed you some breakfast. I know you don't like real sweet stuff, so I bought some eggs, some peppers, and some ham. I figured we could have omelets?" He looked up at me for approval. Shrugging I nodded as another pain pierced my other side. Steeling myself, I hid my pain. "Great!" he chirped. Setting the items out, along with some cheese, he then plopped down. I stood there, staring at him. He blushed. "Well, uh…" he scratched the back of his neck, "I don't know how to cook…I just said I owed you breakfast…not that I could cook it." Raising my eyebrow, I sighed, a small smile playing on my lips. Nodding, I went over and started preparing the omelets.

"So, uh…Kakashi…I was thinking. I don't like what you did and don't agree with it, but I know you have your reasons and what you did you did to protect me. And, it seems that you don't want me out of your life, or you wouldn't have been around me when I was younger. So, I guess you're okay with us being friends…So, I understand what you did and forgive you. I can't imagine you not being in my life, so if friends is all I can have, I guess I have to take it." I heard Naruto state from behind me. Turning to look over my shoulder, I smiled at him. As long as he wasn't trying to become my lover, he was pleasant enough to be around. I couldn't fool myself…I craved Naruto's presence…just the way some may crave the opiates. I just could not be with him…we could be friends, but any more than that was off limits. It seems that Naruto has figured it out. I was pleased. I didn't want him to be out of my life, but I wanted him to understand why being with me was a poor choice. And it seems it got through.

"Good. And yes, Naruto, I want you in my life, but we just cannot be intimate. I'm glad you understand and forgave me. Everything I do is for your safety." Adding the ingredients to the omelet, I heard Naruto ask the question I had been waiting for him to ask me.

"Um…are you ever going to tell me why you wear that mask, or let me see what you look like without it?"

I chuckled, taking in a sharp breath as another sharp pain lanced my stomach. Playing it off, "Ooohhhh, well…secrecy and anonymity are imperative in ANBU. I have been in the ANBU for several years. I guess, over time, it just became habit. However, it helps that people don't know what I look like when I go on undercover missions…all I have to do is take off my mask, put a wig and some contacts on, and voila!" Giving an eye smirk, I turned to him, plating the eggs. "I've been in front of you without my mask before."

Naruto's eyes got huge. "When? Huh? NO way!"

()()()

Naruto was sitting in the Academy, looking bored. Iruka-sensei was teaching the same boring lecture about the same boring jutsu. All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door. Iruka looked up. "Enter." His face showed mild annoyance at being interrupted.

In walked a tall, thin man with shaggy brown hair greased to his head. He had black markings similar to Kiba. Naruto looked at his comrade. "Your cousin?" he asked curiosity in his voice.

Kiba shook his head. "I haven't seen him before. He smells weird, too."

The man could hear all this but said nothing.

Naruto frowned. The man leaned over and whispered something in Iruka-sensei's ear. Nodding, Iruka smiled.

"Class, today you will learn the fine art of taijutsu from Master Woshana." As the man bowed to the class, they just stared at him.

"Class, Master Woshana will call each up in turn, showing you some base moves, and then he will simulate an attack against you, that you will have to defend. There is always the chance in battle that your chakra will be depleted and you will have to rely on brute strength. Master Woshana, please." Iruka sat behind the desk.

Students went up in turn. Some, like Sasuke, mastered it fairly well, although none like Rock Lee, who paid rapt attention, imitating everything to perfection. Suddenly, it was Naruto's turn. Standing, he went up to the dark haired male, facing him. Blue eyes stared at green eyes. The man came over and showed Naruto the stances that he had seen the others imitate. Imitating them as well, Naruto practiced what the man said. After about two minutes, he seemed bored. "C'mon…let's get going already!" He growled, throwing a punch since he knew how to do this.

That is when it happened. That's when it seemed that he realized that the "power of youth" that Guy-sensei spoke of was not always most powerful, since he was easily tossed on his butt, staring up from the ground at the much older Master Woshana, who hadn't moved anything more than one arm. As the class laughed at Naruto's flailing, Naruto stood, laughing as well, a flash of aggravation crossing his face.

Eventually Master Woshana left. After reaching home, I took off my contacts, the disguise marks on my face, and washed off the temporary dye from my hair. My mission was a success. I infiltrated a room with people who knew me, and none of them recognized me…even Iruka, whom I had grown up with and went to Academy with and Naruto, my soulmate.

()()()

"Yes, way. But I'm not telling you when." I grinned, sitting the plate down. Naruto scrunched up his nose. I could tell he was thinking. "Don't worry; you probably didn't even know it was me." Shrugging, I went ahead and slid my mask down. Naruto could see my face…I wouldn't be able to hide it from him forever, anyways. Yamato had seen my face, as had Lady Tsunade and Guy. However, honestly, that was the only living people who had seen it. As I grabbed my plate and turned to set it down, I noticed that Naruto had not started eating. Looking confused, I was worried that perhaps he didn't like my eggs. He was staring at me. "Naruto…are you alright?"

"Kakashi…" he whispered, standing and closing the distance between us. I didn't like this…not at all,…it was the way he said my name the same as the way he said it last night. My throat got tight, as did my pants.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, throat impossibly dry.

He lifted his hand to my face, running his fingers gently over my cheek. "You are absolutely gorgeous." The trail from his fingers was like fire on my skin. I sucked in air as he stared at me, his blue eyes becoming darker. "Kakashi…" he whispered, closing the not-that-great distance between us. How can he say my name like that?

"Yes?" I asked, hating the break I heard in my strained voice.

"Why do you hide this?" he whispered, running his finger over my bottom lip.

"I…I've already told you why." I whispered, eyes drawn to Naruto who was now face to face with me.

"You shouldn't." he chastised me, never breaking eye contact with me, running his finger over my bottom lip again.

"Why?" I rasped out. I didn't like where this was going. I needed to move.

"Because…" Running his fingers down my cheek again, he traced imaginary lines on my cheek, down over my neck. Shivering, I was unable to look away. "Absolutely gorgeous." His eyes were drinking in my face.

"No…I'm a monster." I reached up to grab his wrist. I had to stop this. Naruto never took his eyes off me as he pulled my hand to his mouth, kissing the back of my hand. As he trailed little kisses up my hand, I took in a shaky breath. "Naruto…we can't …"

"Kakashi…" those dark blue eyes held me, his voice sending shivers down my spine. Leaning up, he put his lips against mine. The traitorous whimper escaped my throat as my eyes slid closed, the…exquisite…feeling of Naruto's lips on mine. Kissing me again, I felt my resolve about to slip away. "Please…let me love you." He whispered as my grip on his wrist loosened.

"No…you deserve a fa…" Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain pierce my sternum. Gasping, I grabbed my chest, slamming into the counter as I gasped again, knees buckling. Naruto came over to me, an arm under my shoulder. "Kakashi!...Kakashi!" I could hear him faintly, as darkness nibbled at my consciousness until it ebbed away.

{This is not good…

Standing from my crouched position, I rubbed my chest. I didn't hurt anymore, but I didn't understand what was going on or what he was saying. Rubbing my chest again, I looked at him. 'What is going on?'

I do not know…but the pain you feel…it is bits of my chakra being torn apart.

My eye widened as I looked at him. 'Torn apart?'

I'm not losing my chakra, but it's being…unraveled. Separated from my body. If too much becomes separated…I do not know your body will be able to handle it.

I frowned. 'Are you doing this? I won't allow you to be able to break free.' I growled.

No, I am not. You are of more value to me right now alive than dead, Idiot.

'Then what is going on?' I asked.

I fear the answer lies with the Akatsuki. And I fear they will be coming for you, soon…}