Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Warnings! Underage Naruto (seventeen in this fic, Kakashi is twenty nine) overprotective!Minato, sex, language, AU, other things meant for the mature.

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The Tyndall Effect

vii. passivity

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"…How many people have you slept with?"

Kakashi had just shucked on a pair of wrinkled khakis, Naruto watching him idly from the bed before that question was blurted out. Needless to say, he stopped trying to button them, giving the infuriatingly calm boy an incredulous look.

Instead of fighting Naruto's question with another question like he normally would have, Kakashi calmly finished buttoning and zipping up his pants and grabbed a wrist watching from the dresser, glancing anywhere but at eager, blue eyes. "Six," he stated confidently. "Not that it's any of your business."

Naruto's face lit up in a slow smile as he raised himself up on his elbows, chuckling. "I didn't think you'd tell me. Who? I figured you'd have at least twenty by now."

Kakashi glared but held up six fingers, listlessly drawling out the names. "You, Gai, Asuma, Obito, Genma, and that one I told you about," he trailed off awkwardly.

There was a seven second, suspicious silence where Naruto remained with a blank face. And then like a dam breaking, he jumped up and flailed around obnoxiously. "You slept with Gai?" he shouted.

Kakashi's glare intensified. "Obito was the first, and after he… passed away, there was Gai. It ended fast. The rest were all in passing. I'm not very good with relationships." At the mention of Obito, Kakashi sucked in a breath and turned his back on the blond, fiddling with his wrist. Obito's death, even after all these years, still hurt. Kakashi could feel the burning pain of glass whizzing past his face, Obito's screams and the feeling of floating through the sky. Until the car came down, spun around, and crashed, leaving Obito broken and to die in a hospital three days later. No matter how little Kakashi spoke of his friend, the pain was brought to the surface immediately like it was brand new, raw and aching. The memories were the worst, lingering on his subconscious and in his dreams. It was something he'd never escape. A car crash he'd never forget.

Naruto made a choked sound in the back of his throat, fully at attention now. "Have you always been gay? You've never dated any women?" Naruto murmured, sitting up on his knees so he could reach the teacher, grabbing Kakashi's broad shoulder's to spin him around. He looked up into storm-cloud grey eyes, swirling with lost thoughts and painful memories. Naruto instantly felt horrible for bringing Obito up. He should have known they were that close, that of course Obito was the first.

Slowly, Kakashi's muddled, mismatched eyes cleared, if only a little. He looked up as if knocked from a trance, lips parting in reminiscence. "I've had a few flings, but just until I decided I liked men. I don't count them because my heart wasn't in it, they didn't feel right." Kakashi smiled slightly, noticing the contemplative look on Naruto's face. "Do you parents know you like men? Older men, at that," he chortled dryly.

Rolling his eyes, Naruto pulled away and stood, cocking his hip and waving a hand flippantly. "Of course they do. They know me too well not to know, anyway. Dad never said anything to you?"

Kakashi grabbed a shirt from his closet, inspecting it for stains. Finding it in the clear he put it on, leaving the buttons undone and going into the bathroom. Naruto watched him appreciatively before leaning down and scouring the floor for his own clothes. "He has, but I understand teenagers and how they go through phases."

"You're not a phase," Naruto returned on the dime, throwing a hideously bright t-shirt over his head. When he looked up Kakashi was standing in the bathroom doorway, amusedly smirking at him, his deep, purple dress shirt fully buttoned and looking smart on his tall frame. Naruto grinned, bouncing over to him to tug on his tie. "Definitely not a phase." He leaned up, pressing his lips against warm ones.

Kakashi trailed gentle hands down his sides, producing a shiver from his body at the action, before settling on his hips like they belonged there. They kissed softly like well acquainted lovers, which startled Kakashi somewhat that he could act so familiar and ease himself so quickly into a relationship.

Naruto broke away first, drawing back with Kakashi's bottom lip in between his sparkling white teeth. He let it go with a wink, licking his lips playfully. Inner Kakashi groaned, because he hadn't had sex in a while and that simple action left him just a little hard. Embarrassing.

"We're going to be late," Naruto murmured into the silver haired man's exposed collar bone, nibbling on the pale skin there.

"Mm," Kakashi nodded, breaking their embrace altogether to finish his tie, striding out of the bedroom with legs that went on for days. "Don't forget your stuff."

Naruto was left alone, but there was a face splitting smile that he couldn't seem to remove painted on his features. Someone would have to put a gun to his temple or something, because it wasn't leaving anytime soon if Kakashi continued to indulge him. It was like his deepest, darkest fantasy had been brought to fruition, leaving him dazed and feeling overly privileged. Kakashi wanted him?

He would live out this dream to the fullest. Something he had undeniably wanted since he was thirteen, staring at Kakashi with bedroom eyes unbeknownst to the man. Kakashi was a rock in his life since he was seven, and somewhere along the way his teen crush had shifted, changed into actual feelings that fluttered in his chest. That hurt when Kakashi only acknowledged him as Minato's little boy and treated him as such.

Naruto sighed and ran a hand through his tangled, messy blond locks. A brush wouldn't do any good at this point. He chuckled and finished dressing quickly, grabbing a few books and chasing after Kakashi, who had already left the apartment.

Waving goodbye to Pakkun, Naruto hastily locked the door and ran out, hopping into the elevator. He was jumpy, tapping on the wall. Despite his counterpart, he hated being late. The little chime indicating he was free sounded, and he rounded off out of the lobby to the garage, spotting Kakashi frowning in the driver's seat of his car, forefinger pressed on the base of his throat.

Naruto jogged over to the passenger's side, sliding into the cushiony seat with a breath of relief. Kakashi gave him a bored look, before shifting gears and taking off without a word. For a moment, Naruto thought he was angry before a small almost grim smile slithered onto his lips.

"You're picking up my habits," Kakashi commented offhandedly, making a sharp turn and startling the boy. Naruto blinked in a way that could be considered overly hard, glancing from the rapidly disappearing road to Kakashi's casually slouched body.

He checked his cell phone, noting that they had five minutes before they were indeed considered late. Groaning, he crossed his arms and sat back, pressing his head into the headrest. "Apparently."

Kakashi gave him a devilishly handsome smirk that showed all of his perfect, white teeth before reaching over to the gear shift. "Hold on."

And they were off.

Conviently, Naruto was only two and a half minutes late. Luckily enough, his first teacher didn't care.

X

Kakashi propped his feet up on a desk in the science department, leaning back to stare at the intricate textures of the too-white ceiling. It was hard to focus with all the aides running around for the other teachers, trying to get some last minute plans worked out or furiously grading assignments. Kakashi was definitely not like that. He rarely had anything to grade, and he used the same plans year after year. Why change a good thing?

Well, with his success rate, that wasn't exactly accurate.

So what, he had standards. Kids these days just couldn't keep up.

"Kakashi-sensei?" a mousy voice sounded from his right, pulling him from his peaceful morning nap. His eyes zeroed in on a girl with long, dark hair, straight as a board cascading down her back. She gave him a watery smile, her pale skin flushing with color when he gave her his full attention.

"Ah, yes Hinata?"He knew who this girl was. He was sure the entire student body did, as well. She had a massive, brain shattering crush on Naruto.

Inner Kakashi cackled evilly and whispered, he's yours now. Kakashi tsked at his own childish, lack of tact and stood, brushing away the hair covering his eyes.

She steeled herself and held out a paper covered in red, looking thoroughly ashamed. "I… I was w-wondering if y-you would help me with t-this problem. . ."

"Oh course, Hinata," Kakashi murmured. "Would you like to stay after school tomorrow?"

Nodding, she closed her large, white eyes, inky lashes fluttering across her cheeks. "I would r-really appreciate i-it."

Now, he decided to play with her a bit. "Mm, I was thinking of having a group steady secession. Naruto doesn't take chemistry but he could stand to start the basics now, with his grades. Do you know him?" Kakashi grinned when she immediately tensed; blinking up at him in what he thought was awestruck.

"No! No, er, y-yes…"

"With some hard work, I think you can pass. Have some faith. Maybe you could help him as a favor to me? I think he's having some trouble in algebra, too."

A tomato would be an accurate description of Hinata then, her slim body practically shaking with tremors. Kakashi was deeply amused and inwardly a little sad. This girl liked what was his, but at the same time, perhaps she could help Naruto and get over her shallow crush. Naruto could help her loosen up in return and Kakashi wouldn't have to do much work.

She bowed deeply before skittering off, leaving Kakashi to think in peace.

For about five seconds.

The door burst open again, to his immense annoyance. His eyes settled on his dobe. Naruto looked suspicious and pleased at the same time, which just confused Kakashi. He raised a brow, swirling around in his chair.

"What do you want now?" he chided.

Rolling his eyes, Naruto went over and sat on Kakashi's desk without bothering to move the papers that still needed grading. Kakashi huffed.

"What was Hinata-chan doing in here?"

"She asked for help in chem, so in turn I asked her to help you with algebra."

The tan that was perpetual slowly paled on Naruto's face. "What? I don't –"

"You do need help. Suck it up, Naruto. She can help you," Kakashi sighed and rubbed his temple, noting it was only the second day they were attempting to 'date' and Naruto was already grating on his nerves.

Naruto growled, throwing his hands up in the air exasperatedly. "Sasuke knows algebra, he can help me. She's so weird," he whined. Kakashi frowned at him.

"You won't get anything done with Sasuke. Give her a chance, alright? Just see what happens and I'll reward you." Kakashi's tone steadily got more suggestive until his voice was a low purr. He could see Naruto visibly shiver and did a victory dance inwardly. Kakashi had made sure no one was around before he started anything even remotely sexual.

"I see your game Kakashi," Naruto grinned deviously, his foot reaching out to ghost against Kakashi leg. "Do you really think I would be chasing after you if I wanted Sasuke?"

Kakashi choked, cursing how perceptive Naruto could be. If only just. "You've got it all wrong, I just think Hinata would be a better choice," he bullshitted.

Naruto smirked. "Mm. Really? Alright, I'll do what you want this time, since you've promised a reward." He jumped down, settling for leaning against Kakashi desk instead. A teacher walked by then, arms full of papers. "Thanks, Kakashi-sensei. I think I understand now."

Kakashi snickered at Naruto's attempt at inconspicuousness, standing up to pat his shoulder. The touch was less than friendly, but no one would tell just from a glance. Naruto's eyes narrowed, the smirk turning sultry when the other teacher had finally left.

"I might come over tonight," the blond whispered, walking toward the door. "After I do some studying, of course."

Kakashi shrugged a little uncomfortably, but nodded anyway, waving the boy away.

They were not being the definition of subtle about their relationship.

He would have to try harder to resist the mischievous boy. It was proving to be more difficult than Kakashi anticipated.

X

"Naruto!" Minato's voice rang through the upper level of the house, spooking said boy out of his attempted reading. He closed the massive text book with a sigh of relief and scampered off his bed, stretching out.

His bedroom door slowly opened as Minato's shockingly bright hair stabbed through and equally shining smile peaking in. His blue eyes were narrowed in thought, but he greeted his son warmly, grabbing Naruto before he could pull away and ruffling the boy's soft locks affectionately.

"Dad," Naruto whined, halfheartedly pushing the larger man back. Minato giggled and shrugged, finally releasing the squirming body after a fight nearly broke out.

"Quit being dramatic. And go clean the attic."

Naruto glared maliciously at his father's back. "Why can't you do it? I have homework."

Minato turned around with a skeptical expression, forefinger tapping his chin. "Oh?

Any normal person who was not Minato's son wouldn't think anything of that look, but Naruto knew better than to question his father any further. He growled but decided against pouting, instead pointedly ignoring the self satisfied smirk on Minato's face and leaving his room. He hated the attic. It was dark, dusty, and generally full of bugs. Right up Shino's alley, he thought with a chuckle. Some of his friends had the weirdest fascinations.

Naruto rolled his eyes and threw open the solid wooden door to the attic's staircase, trudging up the creaky steps like he was walking to his doom. Well, his allergic doom. He could already feel a particularly vicious sneeze coming on.

When he finally reached the top of the stairs, the sight that greeted his eyes didn't surprise him. Old, brown boxes were littered all over the floor, covering nearly every available space. At least an inch of dust saturated the tops.

"Great," Naruto muttered miserably. He spotted a broom and dust pan in the very corner, beside the lone window in the room, its glass foggy with more dust.

It was hard to maneuver around the clutter, because his parents had thought it would be a nice idea to stack the boxes nearly to the ceiling. Before he could reach the broom, the inevitable happened. He bumped his shoulder into a tower, his bright yellow shirt collecting the plethora of dirt from such a simple action, and the boxes promptly began to rain.

And down Naruto went. "Uwhaaaahrghhhh!" he shrieked as books and papers flew into the air like birds soaring through the sky. His spine ached from the hard impact on the floor and his arm was twisted at an odd angle. Other than that, he survived. Slowly, Naruto shook his head and pushed all the objects away from his body, before getting to his knees. A few photos stuck to his hands, serving to further irritate him. "I swear, when I turn eighteen, I am so out of here. No more bitch work. Stupid parents, stupid house, stupid att –"

Naruto stopped his tirade when he actually looked down and saw the pictures currently glued onto his palm.

His father was in it, but about ten years younger. Naruto could only see his face and neck, because there was another person in the photo. Kakashi. They were cheek to cheek; Minato giving the camera is customary winning smile, while Kakashi had a light blush dusting his more youthful appearance, along with a subtle smile.

This wouldn't have been unusual to Naruto. He'd seen pictures of his father and Kakashi before, as they were best friends, after all. What was strange was the fact that Minato's arm was curled tight around Kakashi and behind their heads was a pillow, like they were in bed.

Naruto sat there and stared down at the picture, numbly pressing his thumbs against the gloss, a plethora of questions bubbling up.

X

I'm sorry for the ridiculous delay, you guys. I've been busy, but also had terrible writers block with this. Every time I sat down to write it, I just couldn't, and I hate forcing fics. You don't deserve that.

I'm hoping it doesn't feel forced and everyone liked it alright. Gasp! More plot development. Slowly, but surely haha. Thanks for reading and please review! :3