Ne? Ne? So many reviews and so many ideas! I'd like to thank you all once again. I'm actually in the middle of exams right now, but I just had to do something nice! Besides, even I'm all excited on how this fic is going to turn out. ~rubs hands together~

Well, on with the story!

WHY NOT 10

Kakashi stared at his ceiling. "Four years." He mumbled and turned to face his side. He was in a pair of loose cotton pants, was shirtless and was not wearing his mask; in his hand was the gopher-sleeping hat Naruto always wore. He had pulled the drapes closed and made sure all the windows in his room were bolted tight, along with his front door. One can never be too careful after all. It had become a habit ever since the Orochimaru incident. The whole village had developed an automatic-locking habit ever since that horrible time.

For four years, Kakashi could not bring himself to sleep well at night. He did not take any other genin disciples but instead began to take A-class missions and posing as guard watch. His reasons were much like Iruka – to have the chance to find Naruto. For four years, he thought and thought of Naruto every morning, noon and night. He wondered what he was doing, if he was feeding himself properly, if he had a good home, if he had found a lover.

At the last thought, he would scowl and curse and hiss.

The mere idea of having the wonderful and innocent, number one hyperactive ninja under someone else made Kakashi's blood boil. No, the boy did not deserve to be tainted. He was too pure and innocent to be merely screwed about by anyone in random.

But then he wondered how Naruto would look like at the present moment, now that he was all grown up. Would he keep his spiky hair or grow it? Would his body mature to a slender and lean one? Or would he be muscular and heavy like Jiraiya? Will his features be sharp or soft? Would he be what people would consider cute or beautiful and exotic?

He would then fall asleep and dream about the 13-year old Naruto grinning and jumping energetically, a halo of light falling on him while everything else remains black.

The next morning was no different from any other mornings. He would get up, shower, laze about and have breakfast. He'd then head for the Hokage monuments, pay his respects then head for the mountain carvings, sit on top of the fourth's head and just watch the village for a few hours. Then he would go to the Hokage and see if there were any missions for him to do.

But that day, it was different.

*

Kakashi entered his favorite bookstore. The latest edition of Icha Icha Paradise was finally out and he was one of the first few customers. The smutty books were one of his most prized possession and he seriously could not get enough of it. He was scanning the shelves, looking for the volume twenty-two when two noisy giggling girls from the other section caught his attention. While listening to them, he found his precious book and plucked it off the shelf.

"He's so cute!"

"I know! I mean, he was a troublemaker back at the academy! I know! I was with him in class!"

"Then he left. But did you see his face? His hair? Hell, even his body!"

"He's a hottie all right!"

"It's just sad that the poor guy is hated by everyone here. It's because of that damn demon –"

"Shhh! We're not supposed to talk about that remember?"

"Right. But seriously!" Excited giggles were muffled by their hands. "Naruto-kun is so cute!"

Kakashi was unaware of the book sliding from his hand and hitting the floor with a light thud. Naruto was back? Since when? He was suddenly filled with the urge to find his student. It was so not his style, but he just had to see him. And what's with those girls? Giggling as if the boy liked them! Kakashi mumbled a curse under his breath, paid for his book and then rushed out of the bookstore.

He then began to head for Naruto's house. "No wonder Hokage-sama never sold it or leased it. She knew Naruto was coming back!" At that loud thought, he felt jealousy rage within him.

TBC