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Hubby: Rose that's mean.

Disclaimer: Nuhuh. It's simple truth. I have the story worked out but how do I know what needs fixing if they keep it to themselves?

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Disclaimer: so . . .over 1300 hits and only 8 reviews is sad. . .makes me think they don't like it.

Chapter Seven: Kakashi's Version

"Well, Kakashi? What's your story?"

"Meh. I did what a good sensei is supposed to do. I stuck by my most vulnerable teammate so that I could help him if he got into trouble. He's a magnet for trouble it seems because no more did we come into that clearing that Yamato-san mentioned than we were in a fight for our lives."

"I assumed Naruto ran as usual, because I didn't see him fighting with us against the ninjas. One of my standing rules is for him to run at the first sound of battle. He just isn't strong enough to do what has to be done when it's a life or death fight. He's great at sparring and if he can knockout his opponent then he'll do alright. But he just can't bring himself to kill the enemy. So I have a standing order for him to run from the battlefield. That's why Sakura calls him a coward. Because he is in that situation."

"It was only after the last one fell that I realized he'd been fighting Kabuto and Orochimaru by himself. I don't know why he took them on alone. Maybe he was trying to prove something. Got tired of being the weakest link maybe. I don't know but the outcome was guaranteed from the moment he engaged them. Naruto wasn't the killer they were and he should have known he was no match for them. If it hadn't been for Sasuke and Sakura I would have sent him back to the academy where he would have eventually given up and gone into some other line of work. Something where real men aren't needed but that fight does explain what happened to him. Even Sasuke and I would have had a hard time beating them together like that."

Tsunade interrupted, "But didn't I hear someone say something about him killing Kabuto at least?"

"Well, it's possible I guess. I know I didn't kill the guy and as Yamato was already down he didn't either. Of course it's possible that Orochimaru killed the guy himself. I just don't know." He paused to consider it. Then shook his head and said, "I really think it's more probable that Orochimaru killed Kabuto than to believe Naruto did it. He just can't bring himself to kill anything for any reason. If he could he wouldn't have lost at the Valley of the End."

Tsunade growled out, "That was a different battle and even you should no there is no comparison between killing a frined your battling and killing an enemy. Naruto didn't try to kill Sasuke cause he knew he'd get in trouble for it if he did."

"Maybe but that assumes you believe he cares what the council and the village think of him. I know he doesn't. It also assumes you think he would feel it if they did try to punish him for anything he does. He laughs off their punishments like they're nothing. Nor do I think he knows what a friend is so there really was no difference between the two battles for him."

"You're a fool Kakashi," said Sasuke. "Naruto could kill if he wanted to. Anyone but me that is. Hokage-sama is right about why he can't kill me. He and I are too similiar. We have too much in common. For him to kill me is like killing himself. Same for me now. I couldn't kill him either. For the same reason."

"Meh whatever. But you aren't as weak as he is. You wouldn't just merely knock out an enemy and walk away like he does. Anyway on with my version of what I remember. Yamato passed out on the last target and I quickly dispatched him before turning to find out where everyone else had gone. I couldn't go to his aid because the Akatsuki showed up. While I was busy trying to keep them out of the battle, I saw Naruto had surprisingly gotten Kabuto backed into a corner. He was nearly down already and Orochimaru was doing some jutsu with his hands."

"Four more Nins rushed into the room and before I could interfere they were standing one to a corner in a box formation around Naruto. They started doing a jutsu also. Naruto was giving it everything he had but I could see he was tiring. I couldn't do anything because, other ninjas were gathering at the mouths of the various tunnels that led into the room so I didn't dare leave Yamato unguarded and I was battling the Akatsuki who'd shown up. I still haven't figured out why they were there."

"Somehow I find I'm having a hard time believing you even wished to interfere," said Tsunade, twirling a pencil on her desktop.

"I would have gone to cover him if I could have. Given him a chance to get away. Just cause I believe he didn't deserve to be a ninja doesn't mean I wished for his demise. I was just as happy as you were when he showed up at the gate. Remember?" He paused to let the memory of that event solidify in her mind before he picked up the threads of his story again.

"Still, I tried to help from where I was standing by shooting fireballs and even a water dragon at Orochimaru but he wouldn't be distracted as he summoned forth his coffin trick again. He summoned all four of your predecessors and then the four in the box formation slammed a barrier around the boy and the Hokages. There was nothing I could do to help him at that point. He had to win on his own this time instead of having Sasuke or I bail him out at the last minute. Maybe he'd finally learn not to bite off more than he could chew. He really shouldn't have become a ninja."

"I had managed to send the Akatsuki running and took on Orochimaru. I managed, due more to his poor health, to defeat him once and for all."

Sai whispered to Yamato, "Or maybe it was more because Naruto had already almost defeated him. Yamato nodded in agreement as he also knew just how strong Naruto really was and couldn't believe that Kakashi really thought the boy weak.

Kakashi continued without appearing to hear what the two said though there was a slight tightening around his eye. "As I finished my battle I turned to see how Naruto was fairing and it was just as I had thought. He was no match for them. Naruto just wasn't strong enough. He couldn't bring himself to hurt them. He never did understand what it truly means to be a ninja. A shinobi."

"He was using his jutsus but they were having little, if any, effect because either his aim would be off or he wouldn't have channeled enough chakra into them or he'd have channeled too much and they'd explode on him before reaching them. He kept trying to do the Fourth's jutsu but let's face it, he's no Fourth."

"Maybe if you would have put just a little bit of effort into training him he would have surprised you," puzzled Tsunade. "From what I hear you only really taught something to the Uchiha here. Even Sakura had to go find a different teacher in order to learn something useful. No, I don't believe the fault was in the student at all when the teacher doesn't teach."

"I don't think so," Kakashi growled. "I saw what Naruto was capable of in the Chunnin exams. I heard how people were talking and I wondered the same thing. But I came to the conclusion after the retrieval mission he messed up that it was a fluke. An aberrant event. I don't know what happened to the Naruto from the Chunnin Exams but he sure wasn't the Naruto enclosed in that barrier. There was nothing I could do but watch as he ran out off chakra. He fell to his knees and the red chakra began pouring from his pores. I watched him transform and knew by his scream that it was the last time. He wasn't coming back from it this time. Maybe if Yamato had been conscious, and the barrier hadn't been there, we might have been able to save him." Kakashi finished speaking and looked to the floor at his feet.

"So then why did he say you abandoned him? Why did he say you let him die?" asked Tsunade.

"Because they did," answered Sasuke, bleakly. "To take out the barrier all you would have had to do was kill or incapacitate one of the nins at the corners. If even one of them falls the barrier is compromised and collapses. By killing Orochimaru, Kakashi-sensei pretty much guaranteed no one would interfere and Naruto would die. But if he hadn't killed him, then Orochimaru would have made sure that barrier stayed in place in order to get the power of the demon. Naruto was doomed the minute they entered the Sound. It's why I always tried so hard to meet up with them away from the village. Naruto may have been a Dobe but he didn't deserve what Orochimaru had planned for him. And he didn't deserve you either Kakashi-sensei." His eyes were bleak as he remember his former master and his years under his tutelage. Some of the learned behavior of those years fell over him as the memories played themselves out in his mind.

He continued, "Even if he'd have won that battle he could not have gotten out of that barrier alive without killing the ninja's powering it and since there was no way they would be on the inside of it with him, that means he would have to be dead for it to fall. Even with the Master dead those nins wouldn't have let that barrier collapse with Naruto still alive inside it. They were terrified of him."

"I don't understand," said Tsunade. "It sounds like you're saying that Orochimaru had this all worked out as a way to kill Naruto but wouldn't he want him alive in order to extract the Nine-Tails?"

"Once he was dead, the barrier would collapse on it's own because it was keyed to him, to Naruto, as the enemy it had been empowered to enclose. Not the Nine-Tails. It wouldn't have recognized the fox chakra at all. So in effect, Orochimaru-sensei figured the body would still be alive but the only occupant would be the Fox. He needed a new body and soon. What better body than one that is immortal? He figured on possessing Naruto's body and taking the Fox's power for his own. He was a fool but Naruto deserved better." He fell quiet as he saw things through Naruto's eyes.

Quietly from his place on the couch, Kakashi said, "So all I would have had to do was kill just one of those blasted guards at the corners. Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you aren't as smart as you think you are," whispered Sai. "You let Tsunade-sama's adopted son die in a battle when he didn't need to just because you wouldn't believe in him. He always said when people believe in you nothing is impossible. He was forever saying "Believe in Me" and "Believe it" when he made an announcement or went off to fight. Maybe you should have tried it."

"You're right, Sai. We all should have," agreed a quiet Yamato.

Author Notes: There you have it. According to Kakashi Naruto was in a battle he should have run from and didn't but we all know full well Naruto doesn't know how to run from a fight. Hope you like the chapter and remeber reviews are a writers best friend. If you don't review how do I know what to fix or explain better. To you the story is unknown but to me it's all known so maybe when I type it out something won't be as clear as I think it is seeing as how I am the god of this story. (It is in my mind you know)