Guh. Remind me to never go to narutobase again. That community really sucks. Anyway- not totally happy with it, but it's been over a MONTH, so you guys deserved something! Thank you for reviewing, and enjoy!


Kakashi was so relieved to be in Konoha again he almost dropped to his knees and kissed the ground. But if he got down, he wouldn't be getting back up anytime soon, and he decided it would be best to drag himself home before collapsing and not getting up.

He smiled tiredly for a moment, dwelling on the wonderful possibilities of a bed, a hot bath, and some good food- in that order. Tsunade would just have to wait for him to report in until after that, because absolutely nothing was getting him to the Hokage Tower until he'd had at least ten hours of sleep.

He pouted, then, glancing down at his left leg, which he was still dragging behind him in a limp. That was probably all he was going to get in his own bed; she'd probably force him off to the hospital after that. He shuddered and shook his head. No way, no how, was his first night home in over six months going to be spent in a hospital bed.

It wasn't like he had people to see, or things to do. Not really. Naruto wasn't here, and hadn't been for years. Gai probably wasn't, either. Ever since Neji had made jounin, Lee and Tenten had been trying to catch up to him, training harder than ever before- and Gai was only too thrilled to go along with it. That whole team was probably out on some ridiculous, hair-brained scheme for training disguised as a mission.

Sakura, well…

Sakura was in Konoha, but he hadn't talked to her in months. Not counting the time he'd been on this mission. It wasn't that she was avoiding him, or he avoiding her- but she was completely caught up in the excitement of being trained by Tsunade herself and her success as a medic. The last time they'd met up, it was over a year ago, and she'd just seen him in passing and chattered for five minutes nonstop about how happy she was before rushing off without so much as a wave goodbye.

Not that he'd begrudged her of that… he wasn't sure how a violent alcoholic and compulsive gambler could make a better sensei than he was- come on, he wasn't that bad- but considering how skilled Sakura had become at medical ninjutsu in just two and a half short years, Tsunade had to be good. Kakashi was content to get what updates he did from the Hokage and be happy he hadn't completely failed two out of three of his students.

It came down to a pretty lonely life in Konoha, these days. That was okay. He was used to being lonely. Team Seven had created a nice change, but that team had almost been destined to fall apart from the moment it was formed- he had, in a way, always known that he was head back towards the cold isolation of self-induced solitary confinement.

Naruto's letters were nice, he wouldn't deny that. He'd kept up with his promise to write. They were separated by months of silence, to be expected- it wasn't exactly easy for Naruto to write back, wherever he was- but made up for that in length. Naruto would write for pages, front and back, detailing Jiraiya's escapades- that often gave Kakashi cause to worry about just what the Sannin was teaching that boy- starting on one topic before being quickly distracted and jumping to the next. It said a lot, considering Naruto had used to struggle to fill out even half a page's worth of a mission report.

"And then I Rasengan'd the hell out of him, dattebayo!"

What in the world…

Kakashi came to a stumbling stop, eye wide in disbelief. Had he really just heard that? Or was he just losing his mind?

Yes, losing his mind seemed likely; six months in the field with no one to talk to, two in a dank cave with only a few skeletons for company- of course he would start imagining voices. Only logical. Surely that was it. He only hoped Tsunade wouldn't find out and lock him up for this- and that Imaginary Naruto wouldn't start chanting only Believe it! in his head, because that would get annoying-

"And then, I learned a new type of Rasengan- giant Rasengan! It obliterated a hunk of rock big as Tsunade-obaachan's head up there, I'm serious!"

Kakashi tilted his head back to look up at the Hokage mountain and snorted appreciatively. "Good for you, Naruto-kun," he murmured, then decided maybe it wasn't that good of an idea to actually talk to his imaginary-

"Oh, seriously, Naruto! You've been gone for three years; don't tell me all you've learned is a giant version of Rasengan?"

"I don't believe you! There's no way; go up there and prove it!"

"Tsunade-sama would kill him; there's no way he's man enough to do it-"

"I am so man enough, dattebayo! Come on, everybody, follow me-"

"You are going nowhere, channaro!"

Kakashi decided he should look over his shoulder, just to check if those voices were real or not. If he was hearing more people than just Naruto in his head, then he really was more screwed up than he'd thought. He reluctantly shuffled around, giving a longing look back in the direction as he turned-

Then stopped dead.

He'd somehow stumbled on past Ichiraku's, though it didn't matter, because even if he'd had the energy for food, they didn't have any room for him there. The place was jam-packed, every single remaining member of the Rookie Nine crowded in and around the counter- and there was Iruka as well, and little Akamaru who wasn't so little anymore-

And at the center of all of the attention was Naruto himself. Undeniably different but still so much the same, still orange, still loud, still happy and smiling. Kakashi just stood there and stared at him, covered mouth open in surprise, and it wasn't until someone almost ran into him that he remembered he was standing in the middle of the street.

That was undoubtedly Naruto. And unless he was now prone to hallucinating the whole of the Rookie Nine- Naruto was undoubtedly back in Konoha.

Kakashi just stood there and blinked until he managed to slump back against a building, eye curving upwards and the corners of his mouth lifting, unseen, in genuine happiness. Well, if this wasn't the best homecoming present he'd ever gotten. He beamed, watching as Naruto gestured about, describing his new giant Rasengan with mini-explosion motions and sound-affects, and his friends either watched on in awe or skepticism. Knowing Jiraiya, Kakashi was rather inclined to believe Naruto, though he did laugh right along with the group when Naruto tried to swear it could get as big as the moon.

The large group talked for hours, and as exhausted as he was, Kakashi enjoyed it. No matter how weird the looks he was getting from everyone else on the street were.

The more time that passed, though, the more he realized that Naruto was different than he remembered- and more than just physically. In a deeper voice that was almost unrecognizable, there were less chants of 'I'm going to become Hokage!' and "i swear we'll get Sasuke back!', and his long-winded descriptions were full of more of what had actually happened and less about the food and how cool it had been when they'd defeated the enemy.

And then there was the fact he hadn't seen Sakura punch Naruto even once yet, and that meant either Sakura had decided attempting to beat him to death wasn't going to whip him into shape- unlikely- or Naruto was doing less to annoy her. Huh. Who would've thought that day would come.

The hours passed and eventually, the Rookie Nine drifted away, trio by trio, until it was just Sakura, Iruka, and Naruto left. By now it was almost midnight, and it seemed Teuchi was only still keeping the place open because Naruto was perhaps his most loyal customer ever. A cold gust of wind blew down the street, making Kakashi shiver in his tattered clothes- and Sakura, as well, in her sleeveless shirt and skirt. Naruto apparently noticed, as well, because he started to unzip his jacket and said something about offering it to her, but she shook her head- but her cheeks were a light pink and her eyes were wide, seeming a little surprised.

"Ah… no, that's okay, but I really should be getting home by now. My parents are going to be worried I'm out so late. I'll see you tomorrow, Naruto!"

Naruto waved as she left while Kakashi watched, pleasantly surprised himself. Ironically enough, training with Jiraiya seemed to have made him more perceptive to Sakura. If anything, Kakashi would've thought Jiraiya's influence would have Naruto trying to stare down her shirt and nothing else.

Even if Kakashi himself had had nothing to do with Naruto's changes, he couldn't help but be proud of him.

"Wow," Naruto said after a minute or so had stretched on in silence. "…Everything's really changed around here."

Iruka nodded. "Yeah. You have, too, Naruto."

Naruto looked at him for a moment, then grinned and shrugged. "I guess I have, haven't I? Heh… now that I think about it, you're the only one who hasn't changed, Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka scratched at his scar with a smile. "That's because I'm much older than all of you guys. I was already done growing when you first stepped into my class."

"Oh, you know what I mean! Everything is the same, but also different… it's weird. But good weird, you know? Like… we're all growing up."

Iruka patted the blond on the shoulder. "You are. And it's supposed to be weird- good weird. I have to say, I'm glad to see it happen. Because, believe it or not, you guys are the next generation, and it's your time now. You all are going to be the main players in this village, sooner or later, and for a while no one was really sure what would happen. But now? After having seen you and the others like this?" Iruka gave another beaming smile and swallowed the rest of his water in one big gulp. "I'm sure Konoha will be just fine."

Naruto turned so he could lean back against the counter, staring out at the village in the night. "…I guess we really are the next generation. Three years ago, we were all just genins… now, they're all chuunins, Neji's even a jounin- hell, Gaara is the Kazekage! Before long, it's going to be us in charge, isn't it?" Instead of triumphant and bold, Naruto seemed more thoughtful and distant, thinking back on the days when everything had been all fun and games. When Kakashi had had three cute students and when Team Seven's biggest problem was who was going to take the first shift for keeping watch at night. Kakashi couldn't hold back his own wistful smile at the memories of those days, the days that Naruto and Sakura missed even more than he did.

He wondered if Sasuke missed them too, sometimes.

"Well… I know one thing for certain, Naruto. No matter how much you all change, even when you become Hokage- you'll still be my favorite student."

Kakashi watched as Naruto looked back at Iruka, eyes wide, and then his features relaxed into a joyful smile, and the blond and the teacher reached over and met in a hug.

Why intrude? Naruto was perfectly happy with Iruka right now. They could catch up tomorrow.

Kakashi waved at the pair in goodbye and turned to limp down the street, deciding that the last thing the blond's homecoming needed was an exhausted, injured, smelly ninja like himself to crash the party. Nope… he could wait until tomorrow.


Naruto and Iruka were just about to part ways when the Hokage-hopeful remembered something very important.

"Hey!" he gasped, turning back to face his former teacher. "I almost forgot! I saw everyone tonight- except for Kakashi-niisan! Where is he, anyway?" Because that old pervert was so not getting out of welcoming him home tonight. Three years was a long time, after all, and after seeing all of his friends, the night would not be complete without Kakashi, too.

But Iruka's face fell at the mention of Kakashi. He looked away and scratched his scar uncomfortably, and Naruto's enthusiastic smile faded as well, to be replaced by worry. It took something pretty bad to make Iruka look like that. "Sensei?" he asked, taking a nervous step forward. "…He is okay, right? Nothing's happened?"

Iruka hesitantly met Naruto's anxious gaze. "I don't know."

"What do you mean? Then why do you look like that?! Something's happened, hasn't it?!"

Iruka shook his head, voice forcibly calm and placating. "Don't jump to conclusions, Naruto. He's on a mission; that's all I know for sure."

Naruto let out a relieved sigh, his tense stance relaxing, anxiety put at ease- and joined by disappointment. "Oh… oh. Is that all?" He put on a forced smile and shrugged. "That's fine. I guess." Did he wish Kakashi could be here on his first night back? Yeah… a lot. It wasn't a real homecoming unless Kakashi was there, too. But he was an elite jounin; this was something he should've expected. "We can just catch up another time then, I suppose."

But Iruka stopped him, reaching out a hand before biting his lip. "Wait- that's not all. See… here's the thing. Kakashi's been gone for six months."

Naruto shrugged slowly. "…So?" He knew Kakashi's missions could last for that long; even longer, sometimes. He still remembered when Kakashi had been assigned an eighth month long mission when Naruto was ten, and how the jounin had simply taken it in his stride, apologized for leaving him alone for so long, and left. Naruto had hated it, but it was a necessity, and had always been true.

But Iruka had to know that, too. Iruka worked at the mission's desk; he often assigned those long missions, and he knew how long Naruto and Kakashi had known each other for. Iruka knew that Naruto knew that, as well. And yet he was still acting like this…

Something had to be wrong.

Iruka answered before Naruto could ask, his voice quiet and carefully unworried. But Naruto could hear the anxiety lurking beneath his words, all the same.

"He was only supposed to be gone for four."

Naruto blinked.

The first thing that occurred to him was two months; that's late, even for Kakashi! but then it really hit him, and his fists clenched and he looked away.

Kakashi was late.

Late from a mission was bad. Even if it was Kakashi. The man managed to be hours later for training but when it came to missions, he was as punctual as a clock. He was only late when something went wrong. And something going wrong on missions like the ones Kakashi took almost always meant very bad things for a ninja's health. It meant more enemies, it meant being ambushed, it meant fighting techniques they weren't ready to.

All things Naruto had faced all those things and more these past three years with Jiraiya, taking on assignments for money that could've easily been called A and S-rank. More than once, if it weren't for Kyuubi's healing capabilities and the fact that the Sannin seemed to have some inhuman ability to escape from harm, both of them would've been killed.

If that stupid bastard has the gall to get himself killed NOW…

"Naruto, wait! Where are you going?! Naruto!"

Naruto cast a determined look over his shoulder, back at Iruka. "I'm going to find Tsunade-obaachan, get her to tell me what kind of trouble Kakashi-niisan landed himself in, and then I'm going to go out there and drag him out of it."

Iruka reached out a hand to stop him, but Naruto just turned his back again and started on his way to the Hokage Tower. The teacher heaved a heavy sigh.

"That Naruto… you'd think I expect him to do stuff like this by now."


"Ka! Ka! Shi! Nii! San!"

Kakashi stopped in his tracks.

Only very few people could scream that loudly. And only one of them would be screaming his name.

He didn't have time to turn around and confirm his suspicions before a heavy force collided with his back- much heavier than he remembered it being. He actually stumbled and blinked as one orange arm circled around his neck from behind- since when was that arm so long?- and squeezed.

"You bastard!"

Oh… not really what he was expecting. Come on, seriously. Couldn't he be welcomed home with something other than an insult?

Kakashi ducked out of Naruto's grip, rubbed his aching ear, and turned to face him. "Ah… yo?"

Naruto was positively glaring at him, but it was the happy glare he was used to from his team when he did something that exasperated or annoyed them. He scratched at his makeshift mask- what had remained of his right pants leg- and decided that if he played it cool, maybe Naruto wouldn't kill him. "So. You're… back."

"You're one to talk!"

Kakashi smiled sheepishly. Just what had Iruka and Naruto talked about after he'd left? He'd only been gone for about five minutes; why on earth was Naruto reacting like this?

He didn't have to wait long to find out; the blond immediately began filling him on just how and why he really was a bastard. "I get back in town today and everybody's here, but what does Iruka-sensei tell me? You're not! Yo are off on a mission, and you are two months late! And, for god's sakes, you look like shit, Iruka-sensei gets me worried something's happened to your lazy ass but no, you're here and fine and sometimes I think you like worrying us because you try and pull shit like this all the time, and the next time you come home this late from a mission I'm going to kill you myself!"

Kakashi blinked.

Naruto's glare slowly cooled into just a look, his panting calmed down into regular breaths, and finally his tense shoulders relaxed and he managed a weak smile. Kakashi laughed.

"Are you finished?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head, looking almost a little embarrassed. "Uh… yeah… sorry. But- don't you give me that look; I had every right to be worried!"

Kakashi chuckled with a slight shrug. "Aah, maybe. To answer your unasked question, I was late because I hurt my leg in the field. Couldn't travel, so I hid out in cave for two months until I could. And oh, have I missed civilization…"

Naruto rolled his eyes. "And let me guess. You were going home instead of to check in with Tsunade-obaachan."

Kakashi scratched the back of his neck and shifted with a slight grin. "Well… she doesn't have a bath in her office…"

Naruto chuckled. "Fine, whatever. I won't tell her if you don't tell her I knew you were back and didn't drag you there myself."

"Deal."

The two started to walk slowly along together to Kakashi's apartment, ignoring the looks Kakashi's tattered state and Naruto's presence got them. "So," the jounin said at length, "I heard you talking about some of your adventures with Jiraiya. Sounded… um…" dangerous, I should kill that man for taking you out on risky things like that, where the hell did you find a dragon to fight, and WHY was fighting an S-class missing-nin a good idea… "…adventurous."

Naruto scoffed, then gave a rather proud grin. "Yeah, well, Ero-sennin was even better at finding trouble than you- wait a minute! What do you mean, you heard me talking about that? …Did you see me at Ichiraku's earlier?!"

Kakashi shrugged. "Maa, it's my first night back… I've seen a lot of people in a lot of places-"

"You idiot, you did!" Naruto laughed slightly before turning to look at him. "Why didn't you join us? Why do you always have to be the creepy guy following us around like that?"

"Creepy?! I was just being- being-"

"Creepy?"

Kakashi groaned. "I guess one of the lessons Jiraiya skipped was how to spare people's feelings… and anyway, it looked like you guys were having plenty of fun without me. "I mean, look at me." He gestured down at himself and shook his head. "I look- and smell- like I just traveled through a swamp. Which I did, actually."

Naruto sniffed and wrinkled his nose. "Yeah, you got the smell part right. But- well, that doesn't matter! I'm sure Sakura-chan's been worried, too, and- oh, for the love of god, Niisan. I really don't know what to do with you sometimes."

"You could mention my name to Jiraiya. Thinking of his greatest fan will surely give him motivation to write!"

Naruto chuckled. "I still don't understand why you like his books so much. I've read one- it was boring."

Kakashi shrugged, unaffected. "Maybe you just can't appreciate fine literature."

Naruto laughed but didn't reply, and the two continued on in silence until they reached Kakashi's apartment building. The jounin stared mournfully at the stairs, then sighed and turned to face Naruto one more time. "Well- it's good to have you back, Naruto. I'll see you tomorrow. If Tsunade doesn't lock me in the hospital, that is."

"You better hope she does. Otherwise, we're going to have to train together tomorrow- and I'll kick your ass, old man. You won't believe how strong I've gotten!"

Kakashi glanced at him out of the corner of his eye with a knowing smirk. "You think you're the only one who's gotten stronger? Just because I'm a jounin doesn't mean I have no room to improve."

Naruto blinked, then just nodded determinedly. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see which one of us improved the most, then."

"We will."

The pair paused, and then Kakashi gave another regretful sigh before starting his long journey up the stairs. Naruto watched him go and just when the jounin was about to turn the corner and escape from his line of sight, he called out to stop him. "Kakashi-niisan!"

Kakashi raised his head, turning to look back at him, one eyebrow- or possibly both- arced in confusion. Naruto flushed, toed the ground in embarrassment, and finally muttered, "I… missed you."

Kakashi blinked. He stared down at him in surprise- and then his expression shifted a masked smile, eye curving upwards, and he nodded faintly. "Don't make me say it back. You know I'm not good with that stuff…"

Naruto smiled broadly. "Oh, okay. But if I beat you tomorrow, you have to say it back- got it?"

"…Got it."

This time, it was Kakashi who watched Naruto walk away- and Kakashi who called him back when he was almost out of sight. The blond stopped and turned back to him, eyes wide and expectant. Kakashi's eye stayed curved up into a happy grin. "I almost forgot- welcome home, Naruto."

Naruto's mouth dropped open in surprise. He stared up at Kakashi soundlessly for a few moments, and then he nodded and smiled back.

"You, too, Niisan."