They were the same. The deep sky-blue eyes that held such hope and determination, the eyes that reminded him of his past. How was this child able to captivate him so much even after these few years? Had something changed? Soft hands, much too soft for a warrior, grazed the man's shoulder as the child helped him sit up and lean against his pillow.

"You shouldn't move so much sensei." A sweet smell reached his nose as the child stayed close, tucking the blankets around him to make him comfortable. Who was this new person before him that radiated maturity and confidence?

"Naruto...I have to ask you...are you home temporarily? Or are you home...to stay home?" Such a gentle smile, gentler than the man had ever seen from the child before. Too much kindness...too much warmth poured into it. A delicate shade of pink covering cheeks bearing whiskers, what side is this? The man had never seen such a shy reaction from the child before. Naruto got embarrassed, but never shy. What changed with him?

"I am home to stay. I miss everyone too much to leave again." Relief floods the man as he leaned back comfortably, feeling as though a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders that bared so many more of them. The bandages around his wound underneath his clothes were tight and uncomfortable, but that was alright, the child did his best to wrap it and that was all that counted in the end.

"Well, it certainly was very bland here without you around to create chaos." A dark eye watched as the boy's hands gripped his knees, the fabric of his pants slipping through his fingers. He seemed nervous somehow. Why was Naruto acting so strange around him all of a sudden? Was it because they hadn't seen one another in so long? Kakashi knew for sure that he had definitely missed Naruto and thought about him often.

"I thought you like the peace and quiet to read sensei? Has that changed already?" The man turned his gaze away as a hand slipped over his scar, resting on his closed eye. With how much resting he's been having to do and will have to do, it was easier just to remove the headband.

"I've found that I have grown rather tired of that lifestyle. Something taught me that it is better to have the sounds around me because I at least know I am not alone." Blinking, Kakashi turned to Naruto as he recalled something from the past.

"Naruto, speaking of being alone...have the nightmares stopped?" The boy seemed surprised that the jonin had remembered something from those couple of years ago, but his face clearly said that he was somewhat happy about it.

"Yes, they have stopped but..." Strangely, his cheeks suddenly color again and he began reaching into his pocket before pulling out the night cap he wore when he was younger.

"I was only able to sleep peacefully with this in my hands. When I held it, it smelled like Kakashi-sensei and I felt calm. It reminded me of the times you had made me feel safe...of the times when you were so kind to me and let me trouble you. When I thought of those things and slept with this...I would have such peaceful dreams." The look in his eyes as he spoke...Kakashi hadn't seen it before, at least never directed towards himself. It was faint, but it was definitely an expression that was recognizable. Was he being praised?

"Naruto..." The boy stood from his chair and drew near before taking the man's hand and setting the hat in his palm, a warm smile on his lips.

"I hope this can chase away your nightmares like it did for me Kakashi-sensei." After closing his hand over the hat, Kakashi watched as the child walked away and left the room. For a moment, he sat there in complete silence before he lowered his gaze and studied it, the boy's scent wafting up to his nose through his mask as he gripped it between his fingers and rubbed the material. He hoped it was not a dream, he hoped he would see the boy soon, would see the hope and determination that never seemed to fade from his eyes. It took him actually seeing the boy to realize how much he had missed him. Leaning his head back against the pillow, Kakashi continued to hold the hat in his hands. Naruto had changed so much now, looked so independent. Did...Did Naruto no longer need him anymore? What did that mean for Kakashi, the man who had grown so attached to the boy?

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They were going to keep him for the night, at least that is what Sakura-chan had told him. He didn't want to go home, but he didn't want to bother Kakashi while he was trying to recover from his injuries either. So he left and ran for home with thoughts of the masked man in his head. He had hated seeing his sensei like that, fragile and weak. Although he was happy to see him again, he hadn't wanted it to be under such circumstances. Eventually, the genin stopped and landed right in front of a familiar door before realizing where he was.

"Ehh? This isn't...why did I come here?" After a moment of hesitation and debating, he went towards the window and slipped it open before climbing in and shutting it behind him. He shouldn't be in here, he knew this, but he couldn't help himself as he fell onto the bed and breathed in the man's scent. His eyes closed as he slipped off his shoes and pulled the blanket over him. The room was mostly dark aside from the moonlight slipping in, but he already knew the area well. The picture frames resting on the nightstand, the bare walls and the unmade bed that held all of his scent from years of lying down to sleep or to read. Kakashi-sensei's home, his place of safety and peace, the only place where he felt he was accepted and loved. He would have liked to be here with the man himself, bonding like they always did before, but he settled for at least this. Imagining Kakashi's warmth next to him as he gripped the man's pillow in his arms, Naruto slowly fell asleep. When had he started idolizing Kakashi? He used to see him just as a teacher, but now he felt like more of a...well...of a father figure. An adoptive parent. He had become someone special to him.

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"Well, they are finally releasing me, what a relief."

"You don't like it here sensei?" The man glanced over at the other before sighing softly as he rubbed his neck carefully. He added a little pressure, pushing on the muscles which were tense from lying his head on a pillow for several weeks without end. He hadn't expected it to take 3 weeks to recover, but then again, he wasn't taking any special healing treatments and just wanted to heal naturally and only take his antibiotics. It was dumb, but he mainly did it because he got to spend quite a bit of time with Naruto here.

"The break was nice but I read and re-read my books several times. The quiet and lack of movement was making me antsy and restless though the company was nice. Thank you for sticking with me." The older male dropped his hand as he watched the other's lips curve into a soft smile.

"I would have figured that you like the quiet and the opportunity to read your books, but I am happy that I was able to keep you from being entirely bored." Shrugging lightly, Kakashi swung his legs over the bed and rest his bare feet on the cold floor.

"Lately, I enjoy the excitement and noise. It tells me that you're still home." Smirking under his mask, Kakashi watched as the blond now pout, his arms crossing.

"I told you that I was going to stay, didn't I?"

"True, but my heart is still unsettled and seems to believe that you will leave again." He saw as fingers pried at black sleeves while the owner of them adverted his gaze. Thinking of how much he wanted Naruto to really look at him, Kakashi wondered how the boy viewed him. Was he just his sensei, was he a man that Naruto found safety and comfort in, or could he be more than that? But in the end, he guessed that it didn't really matter. Naruto was not only the Yondaime's only child, but his own sensei's son. He couldn't say for sure what exactly he was expecting from Naruto, but he didn't really feel for it to be a good thing. A few weeks ago when he asked himself what the change of behavior Naruto displayed was, he kind of started looking at Naruto more. And in a very uncomfortable light he had to admit. He kind of wished he still just had that adopted father and adopted son feel that he had when he first came back. It made things less complicated. Looking away, Kakashi mentally told himself not to think about it and ignore it before slipping on his shoes and standing, his back popping as he stretched.

"Kakashi-sensei...I know you're just getting to go home...but would you mind if I stayed over like I used to?" Kakashi looked over at the boy with an eyebrow arched in question and, damn himself to hell, actually was excited about the idea of spending more time than Naruto.

"I thought you didn't have nightmares anymore?"

"I don't...I just like staying at Kakashi-sensei's. It is lonely at home." Sighing softly, Kakashi walked towards the boy and rest his hand on his head before ruffling the soft strands gently, it was such a nostalgic feeling.

"Of course. Besides, according to Sakura, you have already been staying there while I have been here." Watching Naruto silently, Kakashi smiled when the boy reached his hands up and rest them on his with very embarrassed look on his face that said he was completely busted.

"I told her not to say...but she did anyways...dang it..." After a moment of pouting, Naruto sighs and then removes the man's hand from his head to kiss his knuckles softly. It was really out of character for Naruto and made him wonder what he had learned from Jiraiya exactly. Not to mention, fed whatever emotion he has been stuck with these past couple of weeks.

"Thank you Kakashi-sensei." Before the man could say anything, the door opened and in stepped Sakura and Sasuke. Talk about awful timing.

"You're finally better huh sensei?" Said the young kunoichi as she approached the two, her eyebrow raising at the sight of Naruto holding Kakashi's hand. Clearing his throat, Kakashi reluctantly dropped his hand after the genin released it from his grasp.

"Ah, yes."

"Good, Naruto can stop moping around now." mumbled Sasuke as he crossed his arms and stared at the ninja in question who was still facing Kakashi. But as soon as he registered what Sasuke said, he turned around and frowned before sticking out his tongue immaturely.

"I was not moping you liar!" Sasuke just smirked as Sakura giggled softly. He missed this, that much he would admit. It was refreshing to have the team together again in high spirits and to also know that some things didn't change.

"Naruto, walk home with me?" said the jonin as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. It earned him surprised stares from the other two and an eager nod from the blond.

"Okay!" So he still had that habit? Walking behind the boy, Kakashi waved to the other's before following the genin who had his arms resting behind his head, just like he used to do when he was 13.

"I will see the both of you around." They gave him a small nod before he shut the door behind him, ignoring the hushed whispers that came from the room as they walked away.

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"Something is definitely up with those two! Naruto hasn't gone on any missions this entire time and everyone either found him at Kakashi-sensei's home or by Kakashi's side." The raven-haired male nods in agreement as he rubbed his chin in thought. Now that he thought about it, Sasuke remembered that the two had been pretty close even before Naruto left. Just what kind of relationship did those two have?

"Something is certainly going on with them." Sakura pursed her lips a moment before sighing softly and shrugging, her hand pulling lightly on Sasuke's sleeve as she gave him a small smile.

"Maybe we're reading too much into it. Kakashi-sensei really cares about us all, maybe Naruto needs his help and Kakashi-sensei is trying remain discreet and respectful about it for Naruto." It would make more sense if that were the case, but something told him that it wasn't that easy.

"Possibly. We can look into it later." Sakura nods in agreement before the two leave the room themselves.