This man was going to get himself killed one of these days. Standing next to the bed of his sensei, Naruto watched him with his arms crossed and a deep frown upon his lips as the unconscious jonin rest peacefully. He could feel his anger getting to him as his fingers dug into his arms and he glared at the sleeping body. Standing on the other side was Tsunade and Sakura with Sasuke leaning against the wall behind himself.

"So what was it this time?" Naruto glanced over at Sasuke before he turned back to Kakashi, heaving a heavy sigh.

"He overused his sharingan while we were rescuing Gaara with bushy brow's team." Sasuke hadn't gone with them. He didn't know the details but apparently the jonin was on some other S-ranked mission and could not go with them. Knowing that the showy Uchiha became a jonin while he was still a genin still annoyed him to no end. He already had his own team of brats and everything! But right now...that was the farthest thing from his mind. Sighing, Sasuke moved over to Naruto and rest a hand on his shoulder, before giving it a soft squeeze. Sasuke was never good at the mushy and reassuring kind of thing, but him and Naruto always had a silent brotherly bond. Naruto knew he was trying to lend him whatever emotional support he could without overstepping his own comfortability boundaries.

"He will recover soon I am sure. Just make sure to let the old man know not to use that eye so much. It doesn't belong to him so it will take a toll the more he uses it." Nodding, Naruto gave him a small smile of thanks before the man dropped his hand and moved to leave the room.

"That's a little mean don't you think Sasuke-kun? Kakashi-sensei isn't old..." Sakura mumbles as she follows after him to leave. Before anything else was said, Sasuke left the room with a shake of his head and roll of his eyes. He wanted to be able to laugh at the playful tone of Sakura's voice and Sasuke's usual disregard for her, but staring at Kakashi, he could only frown; he looked so frail. For a few minutes, they stood in silence before Tsunade stepped forward and spoke.

"Naruto, try not to worry so much. It was a close call but he is alright. He just needs some rest for now." He was silent as he reached over and pushed aside the man's bangs like Kakashi had always done for him. After that, he pulls up the blanket to make sure his face was covered.

"I know. I just...he is always overexerting himself as if he doesn't care whether he dies...like he believes his life has no value. I hate it."

"He is only doing as he should as a shinobi of this village. Sometimes you have to make necessary sacrifices for the sake of the village and its allies."

"I know that, but it doesn't mean I have to like it! I don't...I don't want to lose anyone who is special to me! Especially not him, not...not Kakashi." Silence filled the room once more with Tsunade watching the boy who was still watching his sensei. His eyes started burning as tears threatened to spill. Luckily, Jiraiya was able to break the silence by inviting himself through the window.

"There you are Tsunade, I have been looking for you. You can't send for someone and then not be there, it's rude you know. Hmm? Oh Naruto! I didn't know your team was back, how was the...ooh...I see." Turning to his teacher, Naruto saw him staring at Kakashi's sleeping form, his lips pursed as he gave an expression that showed he was feeling a little awkward now.

"Overworking himself again huh?" Turning away, Naruto gave him a small nod.

"Yeah." After a moment of silence, Jiraiya pat Naruto's head with a small laugh.

"Aw don't make that face kid! He does this all the time!" Turning to Jiraiya, Naruto frowned as his fist clenched again.

"That's the problem Ero-sennin! This shouldn't be something that happens often!" The toad sage just shrugged as he sat on the window's edge, his arms crossing as his ankle rest over his other knee.

"That may be so, but it is something that will continue to happen and not just for him, but for others as well. I distinctly remembering a certain someone doing the same thing not too long ago, Naruto."

"That is different! My situation is different! I have loads of chakra, he doesn't." Naruto watched as the man raised an eyebrow with an amused smirk.

"Naruto, I don't remember you getting this upset when Sasuke or Sakura over-exerted themselves last week." Naruto looked down at the floor as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"W-Well this is Kakashi-"

"So...Kakashi is more important than them?" A bright blush began to color his cheeks and he shook his head quickly as he waved his arms dramatically at his sides.

"T-That's not what I meant!" Jiraiya laughs as he rubbed the boy's head again, applying more pressure than was necessary.

"I am just joking kid, calm down. Anyways, Tsunade...you wanted to discuss something?" Tsunade gave the other a stiff nod and began to leave the room, giving Naruto a small wave before she left quietly with a grinning Jiraiya. He knew they were right, but he couldn't stand seeing Kakashi like this almost every time they return from a mission. If he were to continue at this rate, he would surely die. And then what would Naruto do with himself? Sure, he had everyone else there to support him...but Kakashi, he was a big part of him that could never be replaced. He truly did love his sensei...he just wasn't sure in which way anymore.

════自来也════

"So, you have another mission for me? More intel on the Akatsuki?"

"No. I have a mission that is closer to home this time." Raising his eyebrow, the toad sage crossed his arms and gave the woman a face that showed he was interested.

"What is it then?" Her hazel eyes looked down at the desk as she nervously bit her thumb nail, mulling over how to say it he assumed.

"C'mon Tsunade...out with it." She drops her hand as she leaned back in her chair and gripped the arm rests.

"I want you to keep a close eye on Naruto and Kakashi." Now this was something surprising.

"Hmm? Naruto and Kakashi? Are they doing something they shouldn't?" Naruto does that at a constant rate, but Kakashi? He was the one that always liked to follow the rules, even if he didn't like them.

"No. Yesterday Sasuke mentioned a concern he may have and Sakura has been complaining about Kakashi spending most of his time with Naruto. I just want to know what it is they are up to that requires them to ignore their teammates." Jiraiya raised his eyebrow yet again before chuckling softly.

"Tsunade, are you so old that you can't see the truth? It is obvious what is going on with them. I have never seen Kakashi have such a happy air to him in a long time, but the more time that he is around that kid, the more I see him opening up. As for Naruto, he is clearly attached to the man as you have witnessed not long ago. I don't really see the issue you're trying to present." The woman slaps her hands against the table making Shizune jump behind her.

"I don't want to assume anything, I want to be absolutely sure about what is going on." Jiraiya spreads out his arms as he frowned.

"Well you aren't suggesting that Naruto and Kakashi of all people might be up to something that could endanger the village are you? We know what is going on here!" Jiraiya watched as she removed her hands from the desk and leaned back in her chair with a sigh.

"I suppose that would be a ridiculous assumption." Jiraiya snickered as she glared at him, the action doing nothing to phase the legendary sennin who had known her for so long.

"Why don't you just say it Tsunade. You are either being nosy for personal gain or you are concerned about them being so close for another reason. If I am to be honest, I don't want to be the one that Kakashi finds snooping, and you know he will. He certainly is not stupid, even if he is distracted. Kakashi always has been and always will be one who prefers to have his privacy."

"Are you saying that you are refusing?" Holding up his hands Jiraiya shakes his head with a small sigh.

"Now I never said that. All I am saying is that you better be ready to take the heat when he finds out, because I won't." With that the sage gave a cocky smirk and left the two women to their own devices.

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After a few minutes of silence, Shizune sighed behind Tsunade and shook her head in disapproval.

"Honestly Tsunade-sama, you should leave them alone. It'll only end badly if Kakashi-senpai finds out." Turning to Shizune with a small smirk, the woman shrugged her shoulders.

"He will be angry, but he will not act on his anger. He is a man of control, he can keep his temper in check. Naruto however...that is another issue entirely." Shaking her head again, Shizune gave a look of pity.

"Do you think he will do something drastic?" Turning around in her chair, Tsunade leaned back with a smirk.

"Knowing Naruto, it will take him quite a while before he even understands what is going on. Even then, he probably wouldn't even be focusing on us. He will be looking to Kakashi to enlighten him." That, and Tsunade didn't think it was something Naruto would even get angry over at all, even if he understood.

"So it all lies on his density...you really are bad at betting aren't you?"

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How long had he been sitting here, just glancing at the peace that was on the boy's face? Somehow, he felt as though he had made a blunder and upset Naruto since the mission. Quietly, he reached forward and slipped his fingers through hair that felt silky and smooth to the touch. In the small sliver of moonlight that was peeking through the blinds, his golden locks and face seem to take on a more ethereal glow. Sitting against the pillows, Kakashi gently continued to stroke the boy's hair as he watched him sleep silently. All he remembered was being picked up by Guy as if he were nothing and then blacking out. Just thinking of that idiot carrying him without his permission was annoying and made his stomach churn. And what's worse is that Naruto had to witness the atrocity! Seeing his teacher look so weak must have really lowered his respect for him. How pitiful, he thought to himself as he continued to greedily touch the boy's hair. If he were stronger, Naruto would never have to see him in such a pathetic state and he could always be the super cool Kakashi-sensei. Uncontrollably, the jonin's eye twitched and he pulled his hand away before clenching it. Sensei...that's right...there were boundaries, boundaries that Kakashi probably crossed years ago when he let Naruto sleep in his bed and held him in his arms. He crossed that line when he allowed Naruto to lay against his chest as he stroked his hair, crossed that line when he thought about claiming his lips several nights before. He had to face the truth...that line dissolved long ago and now Kakashi was too far gone to re-establish it, which he wasn't sure if he even wanted to. Putting his head in his hands, the man scolded himself and apologized to his deceased sensei for even having such thoughts for his precious son. If the man were here now, what would he say to him? Would he give him advice and wisdom, or would shut him out and not let him see Naruto anymore? He was too afraid to even think about what Kushina would do to him.

"I am so pathetic."

"Hmm? Kakashi-sensei?" Peeking through his fingers, Kakashi looked over at the boy as he rubbed his eyes with a long yawn, the sky blue irises turning to him as he squint.

"What are you doing up sensei? You should be sleeping." Before the jonin could answer, the boy stood out of his chair and began to climb into the bed with the jonin. He would have been startled if he hadn't already been used to it. But he was certain that this was the one time he definitely shouldn't let it happen.

"Naruto?"

"I have better dreams when I sleep next to you, so just let me stay. Even if just for a bit." Tensing up, Kakashi watched as the boy covered himself up and rest his head on the man's chest, instantly falling asleep as if he never woke up in the first place.

"Naruto...we can't do that here. If anyone sees, they will get the wrong idea." The child groaned as he sat up next to Kakashi with his hair now in a cute mess. His sleepy blue eyes seemed to lock on Kakashi who was now doing his best to contain himself and seem firm in his choice. It would seem that the boy didn't see his seriousness and wrapped his arms around the other before forcing the energy drained one of the two down on the pillow with a grunt. With one of his legs resting over Kakashi's, the boy rest his head against the man's chest. His entire body seemed to press close to the jonin as he snuggled against him, making it increasingly more difficult to move.

"Only for a bit sensei...just a...little..."Seconds later, the jonin heard light snores and sighed in defeat. It wasn't his fault, but he didn't actually try to stop it from happening either so he felt just as guilty.

"Please forgive me Minato-sensei..." He whispered as he wrapped his arm around Naruto's waist to hold him closer.