Ah the readable version with less mistakes! Hey, no one's perfect! This chapter has been beta-read by b4k4girl! Give her a nice applause minna!

Enjoy the chapter. By the way, this is nearly ending. I think 34 or 35 will be the last page. And there will be a lemon! Woot!

WHY NOT 28

Naruto snatched the nearest Genin team available, handed them a scroll and gave them a mission to deliver the 'top-secret-message' to a certain silver haired Jounin. Of course, being new graduates, the little tykes did so with much enthusiasm.

And his stomach was still aching!

Naruto hopped from tree to tree as he tried to exercise his legs - despite the stomachache. He had taken some medicine from the hospital and ignored the part about getting rest. How could he rest when he was this - restless?! He was going to confess and one thing about Naruto was that he never went back on his words. Confess meant confess!

And it was nearing the evening already and the three genins had successfully delivered the message. Naruto gave them ice cream treats and a good word to the Hokage. He knew what they must be feeling - they just accomplished something that was 'top secret'. He could bet his entire stock of ramen that they were shaking with glee.

He stopped on a tree to rest and winced again as his stomach gave another twisting ache.

"You what?" A surprised voice asked - Kiba? "You slept with him?"

Naruto blinked.

"I did."

Naruto blinked again - SASUKE?

"But - But - How?"

"Just like that. It happened and it was - I don't know. I felt - I felt warm."

"Sex does that, you twit!" Kiba hissed.

"No, not that type of warmth. I mean warm - as in loved and wanted. Needed." Sasuke answered. "I - I want him Kiba. I - I really want him! And I think he needs me. I - I just don't know how to tell him. Every night I see his face. You should see him without his mask."

Naruto felt his entire being just stop living for a moment - mask?

Sasuke continued to explain to Kiba. "He knew what he was doing. I could see it in his eyes when we just did it. It was - amazing! I - I just fell for him then and there. He was so - gentle!" Kiba sighed at Sasuke's words. "I couldn't help but think about it. Ever since I was a genin, Kakashi had always been there for me. He helped me, gave me advice, protected me from Itachi and fell in to a coma because of it, and he was the one who stopped the pain from the seal Orochimaru gave me by sealing it himself. He went through extremes to protect me more than once and he even trained me personally."

"Yeah, that's true." Kiba agreed.

"He wouldn't have gone with me that night unless he didn't want to. I - I think he might have liked me too."

"He could. Why not?" Kiba said. "Well, at least now you can find happiness. You were always alone. Kakashi has been alone too. For a long time, according to Kurenai-sensei. So I think you two would be good together."

Naruto closed his eyes and left the area as fast as he could. Kiba and Sasuke were good friends. They confided in each other. But what he heard, no it couldn't be, right? Kakashi wouldn't do that to him. Naruto whacked his head. What right did he have to feel angry towards Kakashi? He and Kakashi weren't even a couple yet! This happened before he woke up - he had no right! So Kakashi and Sasuke were together? Probably! Why not?

"But it hurts." He whispered and grabbed the fabric of his shirt just above his heart. "It hurts so much." He whispered to the setting sun, as he sat on the top of the fourth's head, dark clouds looming above him.

Kakashi read the scroll again and again.

Meet me on the fourth's head after sunset. There's something I need to tell you. It's important. Please show up.

Naruto

Kakashi had arrived from his mission with Asuma hours ago and was stuck doing gate watch. Sunset was close and he needed to leave his post. He summoned for Gai and knew, despite their rather childish rivalry, Gai was a good friend and would help him out. A look in the sky told him it was going to be a chilly and rainy night.

"You owe me!" Gai said.

"Yes, I owe you. Please take care of things here, all right?" Kakashi said.

"You can count on it." Gai said, giving him a thumbs-up sign.

Kakashi headed for the monuments and by the time he reached it, it was already evening and the sun was gone. He found Naruto sitting on the fourth's head, eyes gazing at the night-lights of Konoha.

"I knew you'd come." Naruto said, his back to Kakashi.

"You said it was important." Kakashi said.

"To me it is." Naruto stood up and faced Kakashi.

Kakashi blinked at the serious expression on Naruto's face. "Naruto?"

Naruto stared at the ground for a few moments before looking up at Kakashi. "Are you in a relationship?"

"Is this what is important?" Kakashi asked.

"Please answer the question. Don't lie." It will only make things painful, Naruto wanted to add.

Kakashi did not like where this was going. Something about Naruto's tone set off warning bells in his head. "Naruto? Is something wrong?"

Naruto shook his head. "No, of course not."

"What's with the question?" Kakashi asked.

"Are you?"

"What's my answer got to do with this?"

"Everything."

"How?"

Naruto remembered Sasuke's words and shut his eyes. "You know what? This is stupid. Just forget it." Naruto turned, about to give up.

"Naruto!" Kakashi said sternly, halting the blonde in his steps. "What is going on?"

"YOU TELL ME!" Naruto snapped. Kakashi blinked in surprise. "Because - Because I don't know what to feel anymore." The clouds above them gave out a little rumble and little drops of rain began to fall. Konoha had its weather swings during the winter and it was strange - sometimes it would snow then it would rain or vice versa. That evening was one of those strange days.

"W-What?"

With his back turned to Kakashi, Naruto looked at the sky. "You know what being a Hokage means?" Kakashi frowned. What's this got to do with anything? "It means having the heart to love everyone in the village, even those that you despise. You find something good in them and love them for it. You treat everyone in this village as someone special to you. You also make the greatest sacrifices for the ones you love. That's what the fourth said before he died." Naruto closed his eyes and allowed the rain to fall on his face. "I still want to be a Hokage and I'm learning what the fourth left behind and the third. And it hurts! It makes me wonder how all the previous Hokages ever lived a life in total happiness."

Kakashi wanted to interject, but he couldn't. Naruto's words - it was making him panic inside. Why?

"Sasuke has been alone for a long time. And - And he - he likes you." Naruto shut his eyes tight, tears escaping the closed lids. "You should go to him, Kakashi-sensei. I know you care for him. You always have. Ever since we were kids, you took care of him more than Sakura and me. It's only right. I want you to be happy and being with Sasuke, I know you will. After all, you always had a soft spot inside for him heh?" Naruto gave out a little laugh. "Now I know who the guy is you want to kiss. Looks like you worked it all out just right."

"W-What -?" Kakashi stuttered. He couldn't believe his ears. "Wh-Why are you saying this?"

"Because I finally understand what the fourth said." Naruto said as he approached Kakashi and gave him a strong hug. "I want you and Sasuke to be happy, sensei. Both of you are precious to me. Take care of yourself."

Kakashi watched with wide eyes as Naruto stepped back vanished in a poof. His legs suddenly felt like jelly. He collapsed on his knees, staring at the rocky surface of the fourth's head and for the first time in a long time, he cried.

Naruto knew.

TBC