Kakashi waited until the teen in his arms fell asleep.

He untangled himself, slowly and carefully, and transformed back.

It was an idiot's move. What if Naruto woke up and saw him, naked and uninvited, sitting on his bed in the middle of the night?

And yet his hand, entirely on its own, reached out and caressed the teen's soft hair, brushing it away from his forehead. Naruto slept curled around the pictures of his parents, and the sight flashed like a direct punch to the heart. He tore his eye away from the teen and picked up his notebook. Naruto spoke about drawing his parents, and…

Kakashi froze. Naruto drew each of his parents once; he drew him, however, over and over again. Pages upon pages of him. He rejects me constantly but draws me repeatedly. He gives me nicknames in private and suspects me in public. He is –

Flustered, Kakashi realized. He doesn't know how to behave and fears being rejected.

The drawings were all the proof he needed. Naruto clearly cared about him. Kakashi simply had to convince him he cared about him, as well.

He shook his head, closed his eye, and transformed into a giant wolf.

First, he had to remove the knife pointed at his throat.

The boss's actions did not make sense – too much work for one teen, no matter how beautiful – but Kakashi did not have time to investigate. He jumped out of the window, galloped to his car, and drove to the man's place.

Last time he took an ear. This time he will take a head.

Kakashi parked the car and winced. Pain throbbed through him. Pain danced before his eyes, draining the color from the world and painting it black.

Pain shot up from his leg and into his spine.

Kakashi pulled himself up and – somehow – managed to limp his way to the trunk. Sweat drenched his forehead and his body.

Every step created a trail of blood. He had to reach the first aid kit.

And Naruto was waiting.

The bullet passed right through the bone, shattering his ankle and tearing through the muscle, leaving a gaping, bleeding hole he had to hide.

What an idiot. He was too soft – or perhaps, too cocky – and got hurt.

He had to set the building aflame to erase the trace of his blood. This was getting too big. He'd have to clear it up with his Jiraiya. Fuck.

But first, he had to treat the wound.

He could not bandage it – not if he planned to transform – and he had to see Naruto. The teen might begin to suspect if both dog and man went missing –

Wolf. I'm a wolf, he reminded himself. He turned on the flame torch. This was not the time to fear pain.

Kakashi seared the flesh around the wound, closing it.

He gritted his teeth and groaned but did not scream. He could not afford to scream.

The wound closed. The bone was still broken, and Kakashi could feel heat that had more to do with fever than the burn blazing through him.

His ankle flared with agonizing pain, which the burn only aggravated.

But at least he was no longer bleeding. Kakashi fell on all fours and transformed. Somehow, it was easier to endure the pain in that form. It was also easier to limp.

A part of him warned against returning to the teen's side. It would hide nothing – and Naruto was clever. He should get himself to the hospital; Naruto would be upset, perhaps, but –

But for some reason, the notion of Naruto alone, sitting and waiting for him, bothered him more than the throbbing agony burning through his leg. He jumped up, panting and gasping, and landed on the teen's bed.

He covered his broken leg with the blanket and rested his head on Naruto's chest, breathing in the calming scent of the sleeping teen.

It took him a very long while to realize he was trembling.

Naruto, still in a deep sleep, turned around and curled against him, hugging his head.

His leg kicked his broken paw.

A sharp yelp tore through Kakashi's tightly locked jaws. The world spun and turned black.

The chest below his moved abruptly. Hands grabbed his head, moving it up and then placing it on something soft – a pillow, perhaps – and brushed over his body.

Fuck. That meant – the touch meant that Naruto was awake. And he knew.

Kakashi strained himself back into consciousness.

"… You're hurt! Fuck, your leg! Someone burned you, someone – wait. Hold on, buddy, I'll call for help. Sensei said – "

No. Kakashi could not tolerate the thought of Naruto calling him and him not answering. He growled, forced himself up – as much as he could – and bit the teen's arm.

He was weak, however, and stumbled unto Naruto's lap. Stirred by instinct, he tightened his hold, causing Naruto to drop the phone, and flinched when a coppery taste flooded his mouth. His teeth, he realized belatedly, sank into the teen's skinny arm.

Fuck. Kakashi groaned – that sounded like a whine – and licked the teen's arm. The arm bled profusely, so he lost more control than he had imagined. He licked the wound clean, swallowing the blood and whining.

"Hey, s'fine. Ow… hey, buddy, I'm fine…." Naruto caressed his fur, his fingers trembling. "Lemme get the first aid kit, all right? I've got something here. And I'll get some ice for your leg. Okay? Let me go, buddy. I'll take care of you."

But Kakashi could not think logically or coherently. He knew he could not let the teen go. He closed his mouth – wary of his teeth – and kept licking him.

He could feel his consciousness slowly drifting away. His eyes closed, despite his fiercest attempt to keep them open. He had to hold on to the wolf. He could not transform – not now; not when his leg was broken and flaming, burning and sending spasming jolts through his body…

The world, slowly, was getting clearer.

Kakashi blinked. He could open his eyes again – and he could see. He looked up, focusing on the teen holding him and caressing his fur. He could see his lips move.

He could hear him again.

It did not make sense. The fever from the burn, the broken bone, and the hole in his leg should've –

But the fever was coming down. His body no longer tremored. The blazing heat subsided.

As did the sharp pain shooting from his leg. The overpowering sensation eased into a dull throb, then nothing.

Kakashi moved his leg cautiously. Nothing.

And Naruto's blood still tickled down his throat.

He is a Senju. Kakashi's heart drummed in his chest. What if Minato's accident was no accident? What if Naruto was targeted for his blood, not his looks? What if –

What if Sasuke was not the last of the Uchiha?

Kakashi sank his fangs into his tongue, tasting copper, and licked Naruto's wounds, smearing them with his blood.

He could feel it. He could feel the holes filling up. The wounds closed – and the blood stopped flowing.

He released the teen's arm. His body gave up, and his head sank, tired and heavy, into Naruto's lap.

He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Naruto slowly pulled his arm free from the dog's mouth – and furrowed his brow.

The sharp pain he felt must have been nothing. His arm, though wet and covered in pinkish drool, was unharmed. The dog must have panicked and licked him until he fainted.

Naruto placed his heavy head on the pillow and ran to his cabinet. He took out a first aid kit, which was mostly empty, but still held a bottle of alcohol, three bandages, and an almost empty tube of antiseptic ointment. He sat on the bed and scrutinized the dog's legs, searching for the wound.

Huh.

He remembered it was on the left hindleg – a flaming burn that seared the soft, white fur and revealed mangled, torn flesh. The bone itself looked broken as the leg was bent unnaturally.

But now… the leg looked fine. If it weren't for the dog's wet fur and the small tremors that shot through him, Naruto would have thought he had imagined the injury.

He touched the leg as carefully as he could, but the dog did not react.

Naruto frowned, closed his kit, and got up. He went to the shower, grabbed a towel, drenched it with warm water, and walked back to bed. Slowly and carefully, he washed and brushed the dog's fur, easing the tremors from his body. He cradled the dog's head in his lap and caressed it, holding him close.

He was quite certain the dog was harmed by a human. A part of him knew, despite no evidence to support it, that it was done by the boss's men.

Naruto stayed by the dog's side, caressing and washing his fur.

He grabbed the phone and texted, 'Dog got hurt. Couldn't come,' to Sensei, then stared at the number and memorized it.

He stayed and waited for the dog to wake up.

He must have fallen asleep at some point because a soft whine and a lick of his forehead stirred him awake.

"Hmm. You're awake," he mumbled, burrowing into the dog's lap. His eyes snapped open. The dog was awake. He shot up and grabbed the dog's head. "You're awake!" He hugged him and ran his fingers through the dog's fur, searching for tremors or any sign of pain, but the dog grumbled and huffed, leaning closer, and did not move.

"I thought your leg was broken and burned, but I didn't find anything. Who did this to you?" He held the dog's head and pressed their foreheads together. "I'll find him and kill him. I've got a gun now, y'know. I won't let anyone hurt you."

The dog growled, baring his teeth.

"I know you're strong, but I can help you. Let me help you," he whispered, then chuckled. He buried his face in the dog's fur. "Fuck. I sound like Hatake. Guess he's not a texter," he mumbled and checked his phone. "It's been hours."

The dog's ears flickered down. He freed himself from Naruto's grip, licked his cheek, and jumped down through the window.

"Wait!"

But the dog kept running. He disappeared within seconds in the forest's thick undergrowth.

Naruto leaned on the windowsill, baffled by the dog's uncharacteristic behavior, when a knock on his door tore through his jumbled thoughts.

"Oi, Naruto! Are you there?"

Sasuke. Naruto walked to the door, confused. He hesitated, then opened it.

The dark-haired teen scowled at him. "You were gone for two days," he accused. "Where were you yesterday?" The teen looked angrier the more he spoke. "I came by, and you weren't here."

"Um. Hatake bought me ramen," Naruto blurted. "N' today, my dog was hurt, so I had to take care of him."

"Your dog," Sasuke reaffirmed.

"Yeah." Naruto flinched and rubbed the back of his head. "Swear he's real! He jumped out the window like, two seconds ago."

"Did he."

"Yeah."

Naruto stared until Sasuke scoffed. "Brought you today's homework. Sakura's waiting for us in the library. Let's go."

Naruto looked away, feeling flustered. "Um. I totaled my bike."

"When."

"Ah, yesterday."

Sasuke still glared. "They were a piece of shit anyway."

"Hey!"

"Grab your stuff."

Naruto stared. "You're kidding, right? I won't fit on your bike."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "No shit. We'll walk, idiot."

"Oh." Naruto's cheeks bloomed pink as he smiled. "All right."

Sasuke scanned his apartment with a baleful glare but said nothing. "So, Hatake bought you ramen?"

"Yeah." Naruto grinned and closed the door. They walked together to the library, their pace easy and comfortable. "He also let me drive his car."

"Hmm." Sasuke pulled his bike. "So he knows where you live."

"Yeah." Naruto blinked, confused. "Why?"

Sasuke shrugged. "I would've thought he'd try to get you out of there. This place is gang-controlled and in worse shape than your bike," he spat.

Naruto frowned and looked down. "He offered," he confessed. "He said he has an unused side unit – "

"Take it."

Naruto stared at his friend, then frowned. "First, you said he's weird and that I shouldn't trust him, and now – "

"I was wrong. Hatake's… a good person," Sasuke managed. His ears burned red. "And anything is better than that piece of shit. It's going to snow soon."

Naruto kicked a small rock. "M' fine. I survived winters there before, y'know."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "The fact that you call that survival – "

And stopped because then something happened that neither of them expected.

"Your phone's ringing," Sasuke stated. "That's a first."

Naruto opened his bag and ransacked for the small, loud thing – finally, he managed to grip it and answered. "Um. Hello?"

"How's your dog?"

Naruto's cheeks burned red. His heart jumped to a hundred. His hand felt weak. Sensei called back. Sensei called him. Sensei –

"Uzumaki?"

Shit. "Um, fine! He's fine! I think. I don't know what happened. But I think he's fine now."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and guided him back to the sidewalk after he accidentally strolled onto the road.

"I see. Do you want me to come over and check on him?"

"No… he jumped out the window," Naruto babbled. "Um. Are you a vet, too?"

Sensei chuckled and Naruto felt dizzy. It was so strange to hear his voice in such a private manner. "No, I just have experience with dogs. Do you need help with anything else?"

Sasuke elbowed him. 'Ask him,' he mouthed.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "I… I don't think so. Sasuke brought me the stuff I missed. We're going to meet Sakura at the library," he kept babbling.

Sasuke smacked his forehead.

"Excellent. Call me if you need anything," and hung up.

"You are a lost cause," Sasuke muttered. "So, I guess your date went well?"

Naruto stared, confused. "What date." Sasuke glared back, and Naruto's entire face turned tomato-red. "It wasn't a date, asshole! He's a teacher!"

"He bought you food and let you drive his car – "

"He was teaching me to drive, you dick!" Naruto punched his shoulder, flustered and furiously red. He blinked. Sasuke got strong.

Sasuke smirked. "Sure. Did he teach you how to eat ramen, as well?"

"No," Naruto replied, turning redder still when he remembered how he shoved his chopsticks into the man's dinner. Was this date-type behavior? Was this the reason why Sensei looked so confused by his actions?

Naruto paled. Did I flirt with him? He grabbed his hair –

A hand smacked the back of his head.

"Ow!" Naruto protested, rubbing the sore spot. "What the hell was that for?!"

"I asked you a question, and you ignored me," Sasuke accused. "Where did you go?" he repeated, annoyed.

"The place he took me to - turns out it was my parents' favorite," he confessed quietly, smiling at nothing. "The owner gave me a picture of them, and I met another guy who hung out there – he's my godfather. I have a godfather." Naruto shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "And Sensei told me stories about them." He grinned and crossed his hands behind his head. "It was the best night of my life, I think."

Sasuke stared, eyes wide and jaw tight. He looked down. "Don't you think it's weird, that he knew your family like that?" he asked.

Naruto dropped his hands. "Maybe, if he came for me. He said he came for you," he stated, scowling. "He thought I was dead. They all thought I was dead. He said he never dreamed of finding me but was happy he did. He did not come for me," he said, almost accusing the teen walking by his side. "Besides, you said I can trust him."

Sasuke's eyes widened again. He tsked and looked away. "I meant it," he mumbled. "It just… it scares me, sometimes, how much he knows about… about everything."

Naruto swallowed and nodded. "Yeah. It scares me too."

They reached the library.

Sasuke sat next to Sakura, observing her more intently than before. Naruto sat next to Sakura as well and listened, frowning, as she explained.

Sasuke intervened from time to time but kept his eyes fixed on the girl.

Who would've thought.

Kakashi smiled, walked to the small pizzeria nearby – the only restaurant in the area and the one frequented by the library's visitors – and gave the man running it a few bills. "If you see three teens – two boys, one blond and one dark-haired, and a girl with pink hair, let them order whatever they like, all right?"

The man accepted the cash with a nod. "Will do, sir!"

Kakashi smiled and hid. He had to make a few calls. Yesterday's mess… would take a while to clean up.

Not that he had any intention of revealing Naruto's secret. That had to remain uncovered, unspoken, unthought of. He had to keep him safe.

Kakashi watched as the trio emerged from the library. As expected, Sakura walked toward the pizzeria while Sasuke glared at Naruto, and Naruto drifted away, planning his escape.

"Hey, guys!" Sakura yelled. "He said he'll treat all of us! Sasuke, bring Naruto!"

Kakashi watched as Naruto's face lit up with a shy, bubbling grin. He was so happy to be included… and also, probably hungry. He ran to join Sakura…

Sasuke found him. He looked up – and glared.

Well, can't please everyone.

Kakashi prowled away from his hiding spot and back to his car. He drove to see Gai; he had to clean his car, and he had to give Naruto a sense of independence.

An hour later, he found himself sipping beer and observing Gai as he checked his car. The man scoffed and huffed as he worked, so yet another lecture about car care and the youthfulness of frequent oil changes was probably about to start.

Kakashi finished his beer and opened another can. He was not in the mood to endure said lecture sober.

Gai reappeared, brushing his clothes after crawling from underneath the car, and the look on his face meant Kakashi was in for another talk entirely.

The man sat next to him, easing into the chair, and ignored the beer Kakashi offered him.

"That wasn't a deer."

Kakashi hmmed. "You can pretend it is."

Gai turned to face him, raw fury on his face –

"It's for a good cause," he quickly added, lifting his hand. "And the blood in the car is mine, no one else's."

Gai scowled, grumbling as he thought. "That… Akatsuki gang," he said slowly. "They've been more active lately."

"They have."

"Ever since you arrived."

Kakashi blinked. Did that mean Naruto's situation was better before? Did they change their pattern of behavior because of his arrival or something else?

The angry glare directed at him by his oldest friend meant he'll have to worry about this later. "Is that so?" he managed.

Gai got up and started pacing. "Is that the mission of yours? You said you'll be busy." He stopped in his tracks. "You also said you are not going back –"

"I'm not," Kakashi hurriedly promised, thinking about his late-night talks with Jiraiya. Those didn't count, right? "I'm just trying to help a boy. The gang got in the way."

Gai suddenly looked up. "Naruto," he breathed, then rushed closer. "You know where he is? He disappeared from my garage! I tried to visit him at home, but I think the address he gave me was fake. I couldn't find him – " Gai paused, frowning. "Well, unless it's about a different boy."

"No, it is about Naruto," Kakashi quickly assured him. "He left because the gang threatened to hurt you and blow up your garage. He's a good kid," he added, "he just needs –"

Gai scoffed. "Of course, he is a good kid! I have a sixth sense for these things, you know." He pointed a thumb at his chest and grinned brightly. "Tell Naruto to come back, yes? I am not scared of the Akatsuki threats, and that boy could sure use a little helping hand."

Kakashi blinked. That was… easier than expected. Although perhaps he was a fool to think he'd need to convince Gai to help someone.

He smiled at him, allowing his gratefulness to uplift his voice. "Thank you, Gai. I mean it." He got up. "Well, I'll take care of the threat against the garage – "

A hand on his shoulder pushed him back down. "You mean, we will take care of it." Gai stared at him from above. "You are not facing them alone, you hear me?"

Kakashi stared up at Gai and recognized the look in his eyes. He would not back off, no matter what Kakashi said. And… though he was loath to admit it, perhaps he should have a long time ago.

He bit off more than he could chew.

So he nodded and smiled, clasping Gai's hand. "Sit down then. We have some planning to do."

Notes:

So... yeah, couldn't leave my favorite sunshine boy without any special powers haha They will be explored further later on, but... I'll just say it will come in handy in the future?
For those who asked, Gai and Kakashi totally know each other. I love their friendship/romance in canon and I definitely wanted to preserve an aspect of it in the fic.
The next chapter will be a bit shorter, but on the plus side - more Gai!
Then things will go to shit.
Hope you have a good weekend - and I'll see you next Friday!

P.S - TigrezzTail:

Yes, you were totally right. Kakashi will have to do a lot more than he planned, even though he still has no idea what's really going on. And you're right again - it was weird that those men found Naruto as he ran through the forest. It was also on purpose ;)