Naruto got up early the next morning. Naruto was going to find out what killed Kakashi and avenge him, even if it mean killing himself in the process. As he wrote a note explaining what he was doing, he heard footsteps behind him. Whirling around, he saw that it was just Itachi. "Where are you going?" Itachi asked as he grabbed a mug and made some coffee.
"To find out what killed Kakashi." Naruto stated. Itachi just nodded his back to Naruto. Suddenly, Naruto narrowed his eyes. He was feeling an all too Kurama smugness run through him. Recognition dawned in those oceanic blue orbs. "It was you. But how?" Naruto asked, as Itachi turned, face impassive.
"Yes, it was me. Kurama had been sending us messages through Matatabi. I knew you would not willingly kill Kakashi, not after you willingly allowed him to feed on you; you had gotten lost on the path of life. Therefore, Kurama and I had to take matters into my own hands. I wouldn't include Sasuke or your father in this, as the burden was mine to bear for double-crossing you. I have to admit that the book you swiped was very helpful. It told us to mix vervain with a Slayer's blood…that would cause death to a vampire. Therefore, I collected some vervain and then just waited until the next time we got to visit you. I suggested we take you a bunch of foods you liked, and I spiked the food we ate with vervain."
Naruto's fists were shaking at his sides. "But how did you know Kakashi would feed from me? Vervain has to be fresh in the blood…less than 24 hours old?" Naruto asked, his voice barely constrained.
Itachi shrugged. "Since you had already let Kakashi feed from you, I assumed you would again. I hired some rogue groups to be real pains. They kept attacking randomly, so as not to be tracked back to me. I made sure to send out a group a few days before we visited. Being gone for a few days, away from you, I knew Kakashi would fight and not feed…not if it meant that you might feel like he was cheating on you. In addition, we all know how erotic Kakashi's bite could be. And how jealous you can be. Therefore, Kakashi would weaken himself. Then, you would have to let him feed off of you…effectively killing him." Itachi's hard eyes never left Naruto's. "So, you did fulfill your destiny…you were the one to slay the master."
Itachi's eyes widened as Naruto lunged at him, a golden hue enveloping the blonde, black orbs circling him. As Itachi started defending himself for his very life, the table shattered. As wood rained down on them, Sasuke jumped in front of Naruto. "Naruto! What is going on?"
Naruto barely held back from slamming Sasuke to the ground. As he stepped back, tears tracking his face, he gritted his teeth. "Sasuke, stay out of this. It is none of your concern. Itachi killed Kakashi!" Naruto hissed. Sasuke put a hand on Naruto's chest, stopping him, and then turned to Itachi.
"Itachi…is this true?" Sasuke asked, looking to his brother.
"Hai. It is true." Itachi said, catching his breath.
"Why, brother? I thought we were going to figure out a way to save Kakashi as well?" Sasuke looked confused.
"I couldn't guarantee that we would get that chance." Itachi was breathing heavily, warily watching Naruto, whose anger was coming off him in waves.
Sasuke turned back to Naruto. "Naruto, I know how angry you are. I'm sorry to have to ask this, but he is my brother and I love him. Do not kill him, please. He did what he thought was best."
Naruto stared hard at Sasuke. Sasuke never asked for anything. Shoulders slumping, Naruto turned, his appearance returning to normal. Walking out, Naruto didn't look back.
()()()
Time passed. Sasuke never saw Naruto again. No one in the Akatsuki did. There was overwhelming sadness upon Naruto's disappearance. Eventually, when no one saw Naruto after several years, rumors emerged that he died. Or that he killed himself. Kakashi's mansion remained vacant. No one ever moved in there. Tenzou stayed on in the groundskeeper's house and tended to the place, keeping it immaculate, but he refused to live in the mansion.
One night, many years after Naruto's disappearance, Sakura walked up to the graveyard at the side of the mansion. Walking along, she looked until she found what she was looking for. The headstone of Hatake, Kakashi. There were fairly fresh roses on it. Swallowing audibly, Sakura went up to the dark mansion. Turning the knob, she was not surprised that she was allowed in. As she walked through the rooms, she finally found the one she was looking for. Sitting down outside the Master bedroom, she cleared her throat.
"I don't know if you're here…but in case you are, I wanted to give you an update. Hinata and Sasuke married, and they had a little girl, Hisada. She's about twenty-five now. Itachi and I dated but never married. I was with him until he died. He's been gone three years, now. Your mom and dad were together, and happy for the rest of their lives. They died about five years ago. We all looked for you, but we couldn't find you. Everyone misses you. Nobody knows why you left but Sasuke and Itachi…Sasuke won't say a word, and…well; everyone knows how dead men tell no tales. Naruto, we all miss Kakashi…but it's not right that you've hermited yourself away from your loved ones. Kakashi wouldn't want that for you." Stopping to take a breath, the mansion was silent as a tomb. Sighing, she got up. "We all love you. Please, come back to us." Silently, she walked out. She never saw the blue eyes that followed her as she left.
()()()
Naruto lay down, his bones creaking, as a cough escaped his chest. He was only 56, but he felt so much older. After leaving the Akatsuki, Naruto moved into Kakashi's mansion…he felt closer to the vampire there. Tenzou knew, but left him alone. Naruto used the kitchen and the Master bedroom with the Master bath, and that was it. He never touched the rest of the house. He visited Kakashi's grave every day. He would talk to it as if it was Kakashi. Since Kakashi was fairly silent, it was somewhat realistic. He thought back on what Sakura told him. About an hour after Sakura stopped by, Naruto went back to the gravesite.
"Hey, 'Kashi. It's me, Naruto." He chuckled as a light rain started. Coughing, he cleared his throat. He'd had this cough for about a week. It was annoying. Laying some more flowers on the grave, he got rid of the day old roses. He rubbed the tombstone gently. "Happy birthday. I miss you. I love you…I've never quit loving you. Sakura finally figured out where I was and she came to visit me tonight. Seems Sasuke and Hinata got married and had a little girl. Mom and Dad stayed together until they died." He left out the part about Itachi, as he was still bitter about what happened.
"They miss me, but nothing like how much I miss you. Kakashi…I miss you so much…you were my other half…you still are. I feel like I'm just a shell without you. I've been ripped in two and I'm not whole. I love you so much. I haven't been happy since the last time we were together. If I could go back in time, I would, gladly, to spend some more time with you." Naruto stopped, interrupted by a coughing fit. When he stopped, he lay down on the grave, wrapping his arms around the headstone. Closing his eyes, he fell asleep as the rain drenched his clothes. A coughing fit woke him up a bit later. Soaked to the bone, Naruto went inside. Changing into dry clothes, Naruto lay down, holding Kakashi's pillow, which had long lost Kakashi's scent. However, Naruto's imagination was strong, and he could still smell Kakashi…at least a little bit.
()()()
"Naruto…wake up." The soft baritone woke Naruto. As the sun filtered into his eyes, Naruto frowned and sat up. Who was talking to me? Suddenly, Naruto sat up as he saw silver hair.
"K…Kakashi?" Naruto rasped out. Stepping away from the bookshelf, Kakashi smiled at Naruto, his face maskless. Jumping up, Naruto ran and grabbed Kakashi, hugging him, holding onto him for dear life. "Kakashi! Why…how…nevermind…I don't care. You're here!" Leaning back, Naruto kissed Kakashi tenderly, all the longing he felt poured into that kiss. When he finally broke the kiss, he looked up into those onyx eyes. Kakashi was smiling down at him, smoothing some hair behind his ear.
"I missed you, Naruto. I always watched over you." Kakashi said softly, running a hand down Naruto's cheek. As Naruto nuzzled into that hand, he smiled.
"I don't want to leave you." Naruto murmured. Feeling a kiss on the top of his head, he looked up, his eyes so impossibly blue.
"You don't have to ever again." Kakashi assured Naruto, holding him close.
"How do you know for sure?" Naruto asked, snuggling into Kakashi's chest.
"Because, Naruto…you're dead. I've come to bring you back with me." He held Naruto's hand as he motioned to the bed where Naruto's body was laying, the wearied face finally showing peace. Walking over to a coat still hung on a rack, Kakashi pulled something out of the pocket. Turning to Naruto, he took the blonde's hand. "I'm kinda surprised you never found this but…anyways, I wanted to ask you this before I died, but didn't get a chance. Naruto…would you marry me and make me the happiest man in the afterlife?"
Chuckling at the comment as tears glittered in his eyes, Naruto shook his head yes. As he held onto Kakashi for dear life, he thanked Kami that he was reunited with Kakashi. As Kakashi slid the ring on Naruto's finger, he then grabbed the blonde's hand and led him to their forever after.