"H…inata is marrying Kiba?" Naruto asked in confusion.

Kakashi looked at Naruto with concern. "Did you hit your head?" His fingers started probing Naruto's scalp through the soft blond hair.

Naruto wiggled out of Kakashi's grasp. "No." he said indignantly, smoothing down his hair, standing on the rock next to his now very much alive former sensei.

Kid, remember, this is your new reality. You were supposed to know your mission and know that Hinata was marrying Dogboy. It is understandable that Kakashi would be confused at your actions. To him, you are talking out of your head.

Naruto sighed, trying to figure out how to not sound insane. He decided to laugh self-deprecatingly. "Sorry, 'Kashi, I just…I had the weirdest dream. I dreamt I had married Hinata and you were murdered. Guess it just fucked me up when I woke up." He smiled up at Kakashi, hoping to allay Kakashi's fears. Something flickered past Kakashi's eye, but he said nothing, just nodded, taking his hands from Naruto's head. Turning back to his watch, silence settled over the two men. Frowning, Naruto settled down on the rock by Kakashi.

After several quiet minutes, Kakashi sighed quietly. Naruto looked at Kakashi out of the side of his eye. Kakashi looked exactly as Naruto remembered him. "What's on your mind, Kakashi sensei?" Naruto asked. He saw Kakashi look down and shake his head.

"It's nothing, Naruto…none of my business." Kakashi stood, stretching. Naruto looked up at Kakashi questioningly. Sighing, Kakashi's eye held pity. "Naruto, she doesn't love you…not romantically. She loves Kiba. I'm really sorry, but…I don't want you to be hurt." Walking off the rock, Kakashi went over to cliff face and curled up, his back to it, and went to sleep as Naruto sat, shocked and confused, starting his watch.

()()()

Neither man said much as they kept trekking to Sand Village the next day to escort Gaara back to the Leaf. Naruto estimated that they were a day out. How the hell do I explain to Kakashi that I don't like her, I like him? I mean, how have I acted in the past?

Well, I did monitor the new timeline as we were placed back here in the present. Would you like to know more?

Damnit, Kurama…did you know this the whole time and let me act a fool? Naruto's eye twitched as Kurama laughed.

Shut up, Brat. If I bent the timeline for you, I can have a moment of levity. Now, when you did not save Hinata, her fascination with you never occurred. She knew you, and you inspired her with your nindō, but she spent more time with her team and realized all the attributes that Dogboy offered and fell in love with him, validating his crush on her. Instead of Hinata giving you the will to fight in the battle versus Pain, no one was there and you almost died. However, you visited with your dad at the brink of death, he infused you with some peppy little pep talk, and you came back. When you found out Kakashi was dead you about lost your damn mind, but defeated Pain as you remember. During the war, when Neji died, Hinata was not there with you. You stood alone, you almost fell, but Kakashi came up to you, reminding you that only scum betrayed their friends. His faith in you restored you. I wanted to gag. Naruto, Tsunade is still Hokage, and you and Kakashi are an ANBU team. He is Hound, you are Frog.

And? Naruto felt his eye twitch. Is he single? Does he still love me as Guy says he does?

Do I look like the All Knowing Kreskin? When did you become such a girl? I am stuck with your reality, being stuck in you. Kakashi is single, but he has not confessed anything to you. Therefore, I know not how he feels about you. While you are similar, you are not the same…you were not the hero who stood up for the young girl. You are the Hero of the Leaf, though, and your personality and values seem the same, as your parents still died, as you know.

"Naruto?" Kakashi looked at him, waiting for an answer. Naruto looked up bashfully. Kakashi waited.

"Sorry, I was talking to Kurama. What did you say?" Naruto's bright eyes gleamed at his former sensei.

Kakashi's eye crinkled in a smile. "Did you want to press on or stop here? There is a cave here, and we should be able to reach the Kazekage by noon tomorrow, two hours ahead of schedule."

"Well, yea, we can stop here. Will we be able to stay ahead of schedule, or will you get lost on the path of life?" Naruto asked teasingly.

A light blush lit Kakashi's visible cheek. "I'm sure you can keep me on track." Averting his eyes, Kakashi went into the cave. As he drug twigs and such into the cave, starting the fire, Naruto laid out the bedrolls and pulled out some rations. Stepping out himself, Naruto tracked and killed three rabbits to cook for supper. After the fire was crackling, Naruto set about cleaning and skewering the rabbits. As the rabbits cooked, Kakashi came in, slipping off his cloak, stretching and settling down. Naruto looked up.

"I remember as a kid me, Sasuke, and Sakura tried to see what was under your mask." Naruto commented, handing Kakashi some of the rabbit as he sat, pouring some water into the two cups from his canteen. Kakashi chuckled.

"That seems to be a favorite activity of many people. Although I do not know why. I do not wear the mask for mystery as much as for usefulness. Not knowing what my face looks like allows me to be very useful as a spy. I'm completely forgettable." Kakashi shrugged, ripping a piece of rabbit, preparing to eat it.

Naruto bit his bottom lip. Sensing an opening, he decided to try. "I wouldn't say you are forgettable at all, Kakashi." Naruto said, looking up at Kakashi through his lashes. As Kakashi dropped his piece of rabbit, his Adam's apple bobbed at the tone of Naruto's voice, as well as the look on Naruto's face. The tightness in his pants was uncomfortable and sudden. He thought Naruto had a crush on Hinata; he couldn't risk his friendship with Naruto over a misunderstanding.

"W…what?" Kakashi's voice sounded strangled.

"You are far from forgettable." Naruto said standing and walking over towards Kakashi. Squatting down next to the silverette, Naruto looked at him from below his eyelashes again. "I could never forget you, ever."

Kakashi cleared his throat, which was suddenly as dry as the sand of Gaara's homeland. "W…what are you playing at Naruto?" Kakashi asked, eyeing the blonde warily.

"Kakashi…" licking his upper lip, Naruto looked at Kakashi with, what he hoped was a successful attractive look. He was never very good at dating stuff, as Sakura liked to point out all the time. "I…" Naruto stopped, suddenly uncertain. What if Kakashi didn't love Naruto romantically? What if Guy was wrong, or what if something happened Kurama didn't know that changed how Kakashi felt about Naruto? Uncertainty flooded through Naruto and he faltered. Suddenly, Kakashi's sightless eyes peering out of the box, showing Naruto lost opportunities, flashed through Naruto's mind. Naruto stuttered ahead. "I wanna tell you something. If you don't agree with me, can you promise me that we will still be friends? Even if you hate what I have to tell you?" Naruto asked, the uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

Kakashi looked at Naruto, confusion clouding his eye. "Naruto, you are a very dear friend of mine. I do not believe there is anything you could tell me that would change my feelings for you or make me want to not be your friend. You have shown your true colors and you are a true friend with a strong will of fire. Please…tell me what is bothering you." Kakashi begged.

Naruto nodded, blowing out a long breath. "Kakashi, I love you…I've loved you for years. I'd like to think that maybe you thought the same of me."

Kakashi's visible eye about bugged out of his head. "R…really?" Kakashi asked a tremor in his voice.

Naruto smiled softly, cupping Kakashi's face in both his hands. "Really." Before he could say anything, Naruto leaned up, planting soft lips on the fabric of the mask and kissing Kakashi gently. For a fraction of a second, Kakashi hesitated and then leaned into the kiss.

"Naruto…I…" Kakashi hesitated, at a loss for words. Pulling Naruto to him, Kakashi leaned in, kissing him again, making words unnecessary.

()()()

Kakashi seemed lighter the next day after Naruto's confession and their cuddle fest. To say that Pakkun was aggravated to be summoned to keep watch so Kakashi could cuddle with Naruto was an understatement. Still, Pakkun and Kurama had something in common. Both were glad their "masters" stopped sulking and being whiny little bitches with a Romeo and Juliet storyline for their life. Upon reaching the Sand Village and gaining audience with Gaara, Naruto hugged his dear friend. Gaara looked between the two men. "Something seems different." Gaara noted. Kakashi stood impassively by as Naruto just tried, and failed, to look innocent. Gaara raised a hairless brow at Naruto, who busied himself with grabbing Gaara's items. Sensing that his friend was not going to deign him with an answer, Gaara sighed and grabbed items out of Naruto's grasp. "I'm not helpless." Gaara groused.

"Ready?" Naruto asked with a big grin. Sighing, Gaara nodded his assent and followed the blond jinchūriki.

Kakashi and Naruto didn't speak of their kiss or …mutual… confession on the journey home. The two acted like perfect escorts, professional on the job. Staying alert, the two men got the Kazekage back in the Village a day early. Delivering the Kazekage to the Hokage, debriefing her but leaving out certain…details that were probably better left unsaid, the two were finally excused and relieved of being on duty. Leaving the office, Kakashi looked at Naruto as the door shut. "Want to go grab a drink?" Kakashi asked, testing this new ground they were about to embark on.

Naruto grinned. "Sure, but…you stink and smell like dog."

Rolling his eyes, Kakashi snorted. "Of course I meant after a shower? I'm filthy." Kakashi rolled his visible eye.

"Sure." Naruto chirped and grinned. "The only question is…my shower or yours?"