Standing and stretching, Naruto looked at his sleeping bride. The sun's rays shone on her face, sleeping and at peace, her beautiful face framed by soft black waves. Smiling, he went into the kitchen. Humming quietly, the blond looked out the window as his mind drifted back to the day before. So many of their friends were there to support them in their union. Tsunade, Iruka, and…of course, Kakashi was there. Leaning forward, putting his chin on his hand, Naruto smiled. Kakashi looked simply…stunning in his clothing. That suit looked fabulous on him. Naruto's lips turned down in a frown. He should not be thinking like that. Naruto was married and Kakashi never looked at him like that anyways. That's why Naruto married Hinata.

Oh, he loved Hinata, very much…it's just…well, his first choice would have been Kakashi. However, Kakashi was attracted to no one, and definitely not Naruto. Hinata wanted to marry Naruto, was sweet and devoted, a great friend, and would do well as a life partner. Naruto wasn't an idiot…he didn't want to be alone his entire life. So…he settled on Hinata. It's what everyone expected, anyways. It was nice and comfortable. She would be a good life mate and a good Hokage's wife.

The knock woke him from his reverie. Going over to the door, Naruto opened it. A box was on the floor, wrapped in orange paper with a black ribbon. Stooping, he picked it up…it was heavier than it looked. Smiling at the coloring, he read the tag. "For Your Wedding." Sitting it on the table, he decided to wait until Hinata woke up. Going to get his tea, he blew on it, cooling it. Propping himself up on the windowsill, he looked out the window, his eyes drifting to the Hokage Tower. He thought he saw movement in the tower, but he was sure it wasn't Kakashi. It was much too early for him. Naruto's mouth lifted up in a smile. Suddenly, he felt Hinata's arms wrap around him as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Good morning." she whispered.

"Hey, morning." Smiling he pulled her into a kiss. Pulling away and twisting around, he motioned to the box. "We got another present. You wanna open it?"

Hinata shook her head no. "Those are your colors; I'll let you do the honors." Grinning, Naruto started undoing the ribbon. Opening the box there was a huge stench; Naruto almost vomited. Looking into the box, the world became slippery and it was hard to breathe. There was Kakashi's head, sightless eyes staring at his former student.

()()()

"We can't just stand here and do nothing!" Naruto's fists were at his side; he was shaking in anger, his face red. Hinata stood behind him, one hand on his shoulder to provide him support.

Tsunade sat at the Hokage's desk, reluctantly having been brought back as Hokage at the Sixth's demise. She still had the hangover from the wedding reception the night before. Shizune stood at her side, large dark eyes solemn. "I am not doing nothing, Naruto. However, I cannot run off half-cocked to find Kakashi's murderer. The village has been locked down and I have already sent out several ANBU to find any leads." Her hazel eyes shone with sadness and fatigue. "His body is being analyzed."

"I'm going! Kurama and I can find them!" Naruto's rage boiled over, tears pricking the corner of his eyes as the beast coiled in agitation inside him. Kakashi was Naruto's precious person…therefore making him Kurama's precious person to an extent, since Naruto was going apeshit nuts without the silver-haired sensei.

"You will do no such thing!" Tsunade snapped standing and slamming her hand on the desk, the wood groaning in protest. "I do not need you sacrificed as well because you run off all hotheaded! It may very well be exactly what the murderer wants!" Her hazel eyes glinted in warning.

"Naruto, Tsunade is right." Guy responded. His voice sounded dead. Naruto swung his head angrily to tell Guy his what fors, but stopped at the sight. Guy's brilliant smile was gone, his eyes dull, his body stooped. Rock Lee was staring at his former sensei in worry. "This is an attempt to get you off guard and not thinking straight. We do not know what they want, but it is likely you and the fox are a part of the plan. Kakashi would never…" Guy stopped as his voice broke and he looked away.

As voices kept speaking around him, Naruto felt suffocated. He heard various phrases, vaguely deciphering that the village was in complete lockdown and ANBU were being assigned to him and Hinata. Shaking his head, he shrugged off Hinata's hand and stormed out, hearing Tsunade's voice following him, "You aren't to leave the village, Uzumaki."

Naruto walked through the village, sightless, looking for somewhere to be alone. Hinata followed him for a bit. Finally, he stopped. "Hinata, just…go home. I need some time alone." He tried hard to not make his voice sound angry. Squeaking her approval, Hinata gave him a hug. Naruto returned it, kissing her temple before she scampered off. Walking aimlessly, he found himself outside of Hatake's apartment. Sliding down the wall, Naruto buried his head in his hands, and wept…truly wept for the first time since this morning when he found Kakashi's head.

An overwhelming feeling of emptiness descended on Naruto. He had never imagined life without Kakashi…never thought he would need to. Kakashi was always so…dependable. He was one of the first to be somewhat kind to Naruto, after Iruka, of course. And…he was a prodigy for Kami's sake…he should have been smart enough to keep himself from being killed, damnit!

"He wouldn't want you to sacrifice yourself. He would want you to live life, full of the springtime of youth." Guy's dull voice wafted over Naruto. Looking up, he saw Guy's sad eyes. Saying nothing, Naruto put his head on his bent knees, wrapping his arms around his legs. Guy sat down next to Naruto, patting the young man's shoulder.

"He loved you but feared saying anything because you seemed so happy with Hinata." Squeezing his hands against his knees, Naruto wished Guy would shut up. He didn't need to know this. It would not fix anything. It just ripped open the wound in his heart, making him kick himself with how stupid he had been for not making a move of his own. Fresh tears leaked out, as he said nothing, silently sobbing.

Naruto, I am sorry. Would you change anything if you could? Kurama's voice curled through Naruto's brain.

You aren't funny. You know I would. Esp…especially now, after Guy.

But would you give up everything? Would you give up an eternity for him, even if you were never able to be with him? Naruto could feel Kurama's curiosity.

You know I would, but I can't, so this is stupid daydreaming! Naruto bit back angrily.

Not necessarily. We can go back in time, you can change one thing, and then we can be thrown back here, to this time in the present. But then…you must live with those changes, good or bad. And…there is no guarantee that Hatake will not be killed.

However…there is a chance I can save him, right? Naruto's heart lifted at the possibility of having Kakashi alive.

Yes, that is always a possibility. But, there is a cost.

A cost? Whatever the cost, I'll pay it.

Don't you want to know the cost?

No, it doesn't matter, let's go.

Well, where do you want to go to change things?

Um…I…I dunno…wait…Kakashi's head was given to me as a wedding present. Maybe…maybe this is something to do with Kakashi. But what made Kakashi…Kakashi? What would make someone hate Kakashi so much as to kill him? Biting his lip, Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up after a few moments of thought. Sakumo! His dad…I'll bet if his dad wouldn't have died, he would've been totally different…and maybe then he wouldn't have made so many enemies. Can you take me back to before Sakumo killed himself? Can you take me back to before I was born?

Yes, as long as I was present, I can take you anywhere I've existed.

Okay. That's where I want to go. How long do I have?

I can keep you there for about ten minutes.

Right, let's do it! But Kurama…I need to go before that mission Sakumo goes on that Kakashi told me about where Sakumo killed himself. I need to let Sakumo know about that before it happens…I don't know if I could reach Sakumo after that mission.

Sitting up, Naruto took a couple calm breaths, resting his hands on his knees. He wasn't sure what would happen, but he didn't think it would feel real good. Suddenly, it felt like electricity was jolting through his body and he was falling. As his head hit the ground, he let out an oof and looked up at Kakashi? Scooting back wildly, he suddenly realized that there was no mask on that face.

Sakumo and Kakashi look very similar as adults. This is Sakumo.

"Um…Hatake, Sakumo…." Standing, he then turned and prostrated himself on the ground in front of his elder. "Please, I need to talk to you and I don't have much time." Daring to peak up, he saw kind eyes reaching out a hand to help him up.

"You favor the Namikazes. Minato to be exact." Sakumo noted, helping Naruto up. Bowing, Naruto let out a small smile. He knew he looked like his dad, but he still was proud at being reminded of it.

"Please, Hatake, Sakumo-sama. Please, listen to me. I have very little time. I used a jutsu to come back in time to beg you to please not take your life after a mission that is coming up. You have this mission, and the mission was going to fail so you had to choose between the mission and your team. You choose your team. You are vilified for choosing your team over the mission…" At this, Sakumo stumbled and fell, on his rump, blinking as he stared at Naruto. "You can't handle it so you kill yourself. Kakashi finds you. It destroys him. Please, Sakumo-sama, please…don't kill yourself. The Leaf becomes your vision…the teammates value each other more than the mission. It just takes several years to get there. But I swear to you…it happens." Earnest eyes looked up Sakumo.

"Wh..what?" Blinking, he looked at Naruto. "How do you know my son?"

"He becomes my sensei…but he is a dark, unhappy man. He needs you, he is so much better off with you…please, please do not leave him. Suicide is a one-way option…you cannot come back from that…so please, stay. For him." Naruto begged, blue eyes shining earnestly.

Sakumo sat there silently for several minutes as Naruto got more nervous. "I…I don't know what to think…" Sakumo finally responded, trying to process everything the blond told him.

Naruto…time's up.

Letting out a deep sigh Naruto leaned back against the ground. "Please, Sakumo-sama…stay here. For Kakashi." Suddenly, he started to feel the electricity and he held on for the ride…

()()()

Opening up his eyes, he noticed a smooth white ceiling. Yawning, he stretched, feeling a soft, plush bed beneath him. Smiling, he sat up and looked around. He was in room with soft blue walls. Sitting up, Pakkun bounded in and jumped on his lap. Laughing as he was licked, Naruto pulled back. Smiling he yawned again and got out of the bed.

Did it work?

Checking on it now…

Naruto walked out, trying to figure out where he was. As he walked down the hall, he looked at the pictures. "Morning, kiddo. Sleep well?" Naruto's head spun at the familiar voice as Kakashi walked out of a room in just sweatpants and no mask.

Naruto…you're not going to like this. Sakumo did survive. He followed your advice…he survived and he watched Kakashi graduate the Academy. He watched Kakashi become a jounin. He stood beside Kakashi when Kakashi married to Rin. Your dad and mom still died sealing me in you, so Kakashi and Rin basically adopted you, but not officially-they did not want to cut you off from your lineage. However, they have raised you since you were a baby, so you're like a son to him.

Being able to do nothing but stare, Naruto stared at the man he loved, who thought of him as not a lover, but a son.