Story takes place a few years after the 4th Shinobi war.
Chapter 1:
Naruto wakes up with a start, cold sweat pouring from his body. Sucking in a few calming breaths, he climbs from his bed. The same dream captures him night after night. Every morning when he wakes up he is left with a dull ache in his chest and the vague buzzing of electricity dancing through his body. No matter how hard he tries, as soon as he opens his eyes, all memories of the dream quickly fade. The deep longing that was left behind driving a dagger into his heart.
Over the past couple months, Naruto's life had started to slowly change. A couple weeks ago he finally admitted to Hinata that he cared for her and loved her, but only as a friend, unable to feel any deeper connection with her. Apologizing to her profusely and telling her she deserved someone who could love her properly, Naruto gave her one final hug, guilt and relief washing over him. Today was a day of more change. Now showered and dressed, Naruto left his apartment, sights set on the Hokage tower.
Tsunade greeted him brightly as he pushed his way into her office, sitting himself heavily down on a chair across from her desk. "Naruto! What a pleasant surprise. How are you? How are your studies going? Please tell me you are close to taking your exam so I can be free of this damn robe again." Avoiding the eyes of the fifth Hokage, Naruto tried to steal his composure, "About that… I… I'm not sure I want to become Hokage anymore…" The stretch of awkward silence makes Naruto finally meet her eyes. Tsunade's eyes were wide, jaw slightly hung open, shock very clear on her face. Floundering, Naruto continues, "I mean… I don't know… I just… I want to think about it. I know that Kakashi stepping down and leaving the village put you in a difficult position, having to take back up the robes. I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama…" Naruto hung his head, guilt rattling him. There were a few more moments of silence, before Tsunade finally spoke, "I need you to make a decision quickly, Naruto. This is not something that can be put off for long. If you are no longer willing to become Hokage, I will have to find a new suitable candidate." Naruto nodded, "I know, I'm sorry Tsunade-sama, just please, give me a little time." Meeting her eyes once more, Tsunade nodded at him, dismissing him from the office.
Stopping over at Ichiraku Ramen for a late lunch, Naruto mulls over his thoughts. It has seemed to him that lately all he was ever doing was thinking. Overthinking and overanalyzing everything. He wasn't sure when the shift happened, but he could feel a change coming his way. Toying with the thought of seeking out Shikamaru to ask for his opinion, Naruto shrugged off the idea, deeming he needed to work through his thoughts a little more before seeking his wisdom. Sighing, Naruto paid for his ramen and made his way home.
Kicking off his shoes and stripping off his shirt, Naruto crashed down on his couch, laying back and throwing his arms across his eyes with a heavy sigh. His brain felt like mush, what am I even doing? His life had never been an easy one, growing up entirely alone, despised by seemingly everyone in the village. It wasn't until after he started getting stronger and returned to the village in time to save them from Pain that the people of the village started treating him differently. Their disdain for him slowly morphing into adoration. At first it felt good, good to receive the praise of his village, but that feeling quickly faded. It was clear he was still seen as merely a tool at the village's disposal. A weapon to keep them safe from danger. The more he thought about it, the less he wanted to become Hokage. He didn't want the responsibility, didn't want to remain a lifeless tool of the village. He wanted freedom, wanted to take a step away, a step back to find himself.
Continuing to mull over his thoughts, they slowly shifted to his former sensei, one of the few people who had ever shown him any respect. He wondered if Kakashi had experienced something similar to what he was going through right now. The Copy Ninja's sudden decision to step down as the sixth Hokage and immediate disappearance from Konoha was still a mystery to Naruto. His sensei didn't even say goodbye, just up and left the village without a word. After the war, when Kakashi was appointed Hokage, it seemed the Copy Nin was slowly distancing himself from Naruto. Hell, from everyone really.
Feeling the heavy tug of sleep at his eyelids, Naruto slowly drifted off. His final thoughts were of his former sensei, resolving to seek him out and request his guidance. Maybe Kakashi could shed some light on the inner turmoil he was facing about becoming Hokage.
He was walking a path deep in the woods somewhere outside of Konoha, utterly alone. The path was long and quiet, Naruto finally meeting a crossroads. He didn't know what direction to take, the decision feeling far heavier than it should. Then he felt it, the hum of electricity tingling in his body. He felt warm, wrapped in a soothing embrace. Drawn forward, he chose his crossroad, the path ahead lush and full of life. Rounding a corner, the pull of the buzzing embrace grew stronger. Standing just down the path ahead of him was Kakashi, awaiting him with an outstretched arm. Reaching the Copy Ninja, Naruto collected his hand into his own. An overwhelming crash of chakra and electricity traveling through his body upon contact, flooding him with warmth and love.
Gasping out loud, Naruto was pulled from his dream. Blinking and sitting up, he tried to find his bearings. Early morning light was pouring in from his living room window, having slept entirely through the night on his couch. His body was still humming with electricity from his dream, the dream he now realized he could finally remember. Shivering at the memory of it, longing tugging at his chest, Naruto got up and got changed.
The need to seek out his former sensei even stronger after his dream, Naruto leaves his apartment. Making his way to the training grounds, he finds the person he was on the hunt for. Mighty Guy was seated in his wheelchair under the shade of a tree, shouting at a group of Genins, "This is the springtime of your youth! You will never be this young again! Push yourselves past your limits children!"
Naruto laughed softly and shook his head, Guy was always such a boisterous and carefree sensei. Catching Guy's eye, Naruto smiled and waved. "Ah Naruto! How is the future Hokage doing on such a beautiful day?" Scratching at the back of his head awkwardly, Naruto engages in pleasant small talk with Guy before finally asking the question he desperately sought the answer to, "I was wondering if you happened to know where Kakashi sensei had disappeared to. I need his help with something." Guys' happy eyes took on a hint of sadness, "My rival… He was less than forthcoming about where he was going but did mention he hoped a long break and a hot spring would heal his ailing mind…"
Naruto bid Guy his many thanks, hastily making his way back to his apartment. Grabbing a few changes of clothes, a canteen, some kunai and his wallet, he stuffed them into a duffle bag, giving his apartment one final passing glance before heading out. Pondering on what Guy had told him, Naruto started heading east in the direction of Shukuba Town, it seemed like the right place to start his search. Shukuba was famous for its many inns and bathhouses, all boasting hot spring pools. The sun was at its highest point in the sky when Naruto made it to Shukuba Town. He ambled his way down the streets, entering each Inn to ask after him. Each and every place was a bust, no Hatakes listed as a visitor, none of the receptionists remembering a tall man with silver hair and a cloth face mask. Hours passed and Naruto was starting to lose hope, checking in with the last Inn on this street only to be disappointed once more.
Weaving his way through the heavy throng of people, Naruto makes his way to a more quiet street, ducking into an alley for some privacy. Desperate, he rested his back against the brick wall and closed his eyes, dropping himself into a meditative pose. Breathing steadily, he slips into sage mode, releasing his chakra around the region far and wide. Searching across the area he finally feels it, the silver chakra of Kakashi Hatake. A smile finds its way to his lips, his sensei was only a few miles outside of the town, probably at one of the more exclusive bathhouses. Stretching all his chakra out in that direction, he tries to better gauge Kakashi's whereabouts. Kakashi's chakra feels normal, the steady, silver, slightly jolting, aura exactly as Naruto remembered. Something in the back of his mind keeps him from pulling back his chakra, instead letting it linger. The tingling of Kakashi's chakra suddenly flares, pouring from the Copy Nin, weaving and wrapping with Narutos. The rush of buzzing and humming chakra flooding his body was overwhelming, making Naruto draw back with a stunned gasp.
Popping open his eyes and quickly making sure he is still alone in the alley, Naruto drags in a few harsh breaths. His body slightly trembling, electricity still dancing through his veins, Naruto pushes himself back to his feet. Swallowing back his trepidation, he gives himself a quick shake and makes for the direction he could feel Kakashi in.
The sun is starting to set lower in the sky when he finally makes his way to a bathhouse far on the outskirts of Shukuba Town. Tentatively reaching out with sage mode, he can feel Kakashi's chakra here, although it would seem the Copy Nin was attempting to conceal it. The Inn is quiet, not a single patron to be seen, a small polite woman greeting him in the lobby. Paying for a room for two nights, Naruto heads for it, dropping off his gear and quickly undressing. He wraps a towel around his waist and heads in the direction of the muted silver chakra he can feel coming from the hot springs.
Naruto walks the quiet halls of the Inn, finally reaching the open glass doors out to the hot springs. Taking a quick look around, it would seem he is entirely alone in the space. Confusion furrowing his brow, he is about to slip back into sage mode when he finally locks eyes on Kakashi. The Copy Nin is tucked into a far corner of the baths, almost entirely hidden behind a blooming azalea bush. Slowly and silently approaching, Naruto stops just before entering the pool. Kakashi had his head tipped back, resting on the edge of the pool, a steaming towel draped over his face. Naruto watches him for a moment, not knowing how to approach or what to do or say. Kakashi startles him when he starts speaking softly, "What a surprise. What brings you here, Naruto?" Kakashi hasn't moved an inch, face still tipped back, covered with a towel.
Slowly entering the pool, Naruto positions himself across from Kakashi, feeling a bit awkward, "How did you know I was there?" Kakashi laughs, still unmoving, "I have a feel for these things." There are a few moments of awkward tension that Naruto doesn't quite understand. Breaking the silence, Kakashi repeats himself, "What brings you here?" Chastising himself in his mind for not answering the question the first time, Naruto collects himself and replies, "I'm sorry to have shown up unexpectedly. I didn't mean to interrupt your vacation… I just… I need your guidance. I am having second thoughts about becoming Hokage." Kakashi is silent for a turn, before finally lifting his head from the edge of the pool. Bringing a hand up to hold the towel in place and keep the lower half of his face concealed, Kakashi meets Naruto's eyes.
Naruto is not prepared for the reaction his body has when looking Kakashi in the eyes. A dull throb of electricity travels through his body, his chest tightening slightly making him a touch short of breath. Kakashi breaks eye contact, finally responding to Naruto, "It is a very heavy burden to bear… of which you have had far too many. I can understand why you are hesitant." Nodding, Naruto tries to ignore the hum resonating through his body, replying, "That's why I came to talk to you. I wanted your opinion... What made you step down?" Kakashi is silent, still avoiding eye contact, seemingly unwilling to answer the question. The silence allows Naruto to better analyze his former sensei. Naruto notices his skin is far paler than he remembers, deep bags set under his eyes. Fear twists a painful knot into his guts, asking, "Are you sick?" Kakashi closes his eyes and gives a soft chuckle, murmuring under his breath, "I guess you could say that…"
Abruptly Kakashi is making his way to his feet, exiting the pool. "It's getting late and I'm exhausted. How about we continue this conversation tomorrow. I'll meet you in the Inns restaurant for breakfast. Say 8 A.M.?" Naruto can do nothing but nod as Kakashi shoots him a side eyed glance. As Kakashi wraps a towel around his waist and makes his way back into the Inn, Naruto can't help but notice his former sensei looked slimmer than he remembered. His body was still well defined and strong, muscles stretched taut across his back, but his waist was too slim, as if he hadn't eaten properly in a while.
Naruto lingers a while longer in the springs, trying to organize his thoughts. Was Kakashi sick? Why else would he step down as Hokage? What was he hiding? Frustrated that he had more questions than answers, Naruto pulls himself from the pool. Retreating back to his room he orders a simple dinner, too troubled to properly eat. Food arriving quickly, he pushes it around the plate, his head a jumbled mess. Sighing, Naruto gives up on his meal, hastily making his way to bed to sleep. He lies there a while trying to calm his thoughts. Focusing on his breathing, he is able to clear his mind, slowly allowing sleep to claim him.