Title: Wishes Are Free

Author: Cheza-chan

Rating: R

Pairing: KakaIru, SasuNaru, SakuOC

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto—oh, I wish I did—but I own Kan'you, all the characters of the Hidden Wave Village. I own the Hidden Wave Village because I created it! I own the Hidden Wave Village's special jutsus, etc.

A/N: Kakashi's not really angry. He's… scared, ne? So he turns that fear into anger, like men do, no? I know not how the man's mind work. I will not succumb to the need of making things right for the reader. I'll try to, but the end is only 1 chapter away! Actually… this is the end. :;stares down at her written work;: The next chapter is the epilogue… Oh my gawd, I actually finished something… :;starts crying;: Tears of joy…

I wanna write a drabble... :;pouts;: But I don't know what I want to write it on. Anyone have any ideas? What about those places—those contents things—where you write on a specific subject? They issue challenges! Anyone know where I can find one:;coughs;: I think I caught a cold…

Here's the chapter! (I'm having second thoughts about whether this chapter is good or not...)


Chapter Twenty-Nine – Closure

Iruka knew it wasn't safe to travel without his bodyguard, but Kakashi still hadn't returned from his mission and he had unfinished business to take care of. With only one crutch under his right arm, the young man shuffled along the lightly crowded streets. He figured his presence would have gone unnoticed and he'd make it to the Academy without a hitch. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

"Iruka-sensei!"

The Chuunin gave a nervous smile and turned to see Konohamaru and his bunch staring at his crutch.

Udon sniffled, pushing up his glasses. "Iruka-sensei," he drawled. "What happened? You've been gone months."

"You and Naruto-niichan!" Konohamaru added.

"You're hurt badly," Moegi murmured, hands on her hips.

"I'm fine," Iruka said in a voice he hoped was reassuring. He smiled. "What about you? How's Asuma-sensei working out?"

"He never showed!"

The man's brown eyes widened and he stared at the young girl. "Never showed?"

Udon nodded slowly. "Genma-sensei was our teacher. He's good, but…"

"He's not you! Even though you yell at us endlessly and gives us tons of unnecessary homework, we still miss you." Konohamaru yelled.

"When are you coming back?" all three asked in unison. Iruka chuckled, sweatdropping at the things Sarutobi's grandson stated, and tousled Konohamaru's hair; he was the closest and quick to pull away. "Since I know you miss me, I'll try and hurry back as soon as possible, with twice the homework."

Moegi giggled, hands tucked under her chin. Last to leave, she waved to the man and quickly followed her friends. Their conversation instantly changed to Naruto.

'Naruto.' Iruka told himself he was going to have to find time to visit the blonde. Right now, he was going to find anything at the Academy that would keep him busy. He was sure Kakashi would have a heart attack at the sight of how clean his house had become.

The Chuunin stopped and slowly raised his head to stare at the large structure now before him. There were so many memories there, so many.

"Iruka-sensei!"

'Here we go.' The brunet smiled sheepishly at the special Jounin running up and rubbed the back of his head. He was kind of surprised at the lack of a dramatic entrance, but like everyone else, Anko just wanted questions answered. "Anko-sensei," Iruka started before she could speak again. "Can we take this inside? I'm kind of in pain and would like to sit down."

"We'll walk and talk," the woman said as she hurried to his left side.

Iruka laughed softly as she wrapped his arm around her shoulder and assisted him into the building. He looked behind him at a small grove of trees and his smile widened. 'Okaeri, Kakashi.'

Iruka-sensei, pay attention! I said we'd walk and talk."

"Gomen!"

The figure behind the canine mask, sitting back on his haunches, stood as another landed beside him on the branch.

"You've fallen hard," a female voice commented teasingly. "And he's way out of your league."

"How so?" the male ANBU murmured, interest once again piqued. He'd pushed aside the numerous questions accumulated on Iruka's path, but now his comrade had brought them forward once again.

§§§

"I think it was stupid!" the young woman exclaimed, crossing her arms over her mesh-covered chest. Anko refused to believe they would send a Chuunin out on such a high-risk mission. Kurenai had pointed out that two adult shinobis with the Genins were better than one.

"Maybe they should have sent an ANBU squad," Asuma muttered, blowing out a cloud of smoke. "Or that hunter-nin we supposedly have."

Iruka sweatdropped and scratched his cheek as he laughed nervously. "Is that so? Well, the kids need to complete a certain number of ranked missions, and besides, I was able to hold my own."

"They should've sent me and my team!" Gai posed dramatically in front of the open window, drawing everyone's gazes. "We would've finished in half the time and done it in style and with the power of love on our side!" The Jounin suddenly fell over, only to reveal Kakashi perched in the windowsill.

The silver-haired shinobi raised his hand in a wave, eye curved. "Yo."

"Kakashis-sensei!" Iruka stood a little too quickly to reach the other man and lost his balance.

"Sensei!"

"Iruka-sensei!"

"Iruka!"

The Chuunin blinked wide brown eyes a few times and turned to stare at the many faces surrounding him. "Eto…" He was righted by almost a dozen pairs of hands then released, his cheeks burning.

"Ara." Gai's body shuddered as Kakashi jumped onto his back from the window. He glanced at the several embarrassed male shinobi that had helped his dolphin and smiled to himself.

"Eternal rival… Kakashi…!" the man on the floor wheezed.

"Eh?" Kakashi stuck his finger in his ear, the bored look returning to his eye. "Do you hear something?"

"Kakashi-sensei," Iruka chided with a frown. His cheeks still held some color over the fact that everyone had tried to rescue him. The Copy-nin sighed and stepped down from his human soapbox. He made his way through the other bodies to the brunet. Placing a gloved hand on the uninjured shoulder, he leaned close.

Asuma's eyebrow rose along with a few others' at the sudden closeness between the two.

Iruka blushed at what was being told to him and pushed the Jounin away. "He's under house arrest," Kakashi informed the group. "He had no right to be here, so I'll be taking him home. Our Godaime Hokage's orders," he said over his shoulder as he led the Chunin out of the classroom.

Iruka turned, bowed at the waist to the group, and then caught up with the waiting man.

Anyone walking by the open door would have wanted to know why so many skilled ninjas looked absolutely brain-dead and clueless.

"Should I be jealous?" the scarecrow asked as he and the younger man traveled back to his house. "There were so many people eager to keep you safe."

"Well, you might have to worry about Genma," Iruka smiled. "He visited me a few times while you were gone. The kids say he's been a great teacher, and… well, you should know, was he the one supporting me with the arm around my waist?" He laughed as the man dropped back.

"That's not funny," Kakashi whined, started forward once more.

Iruka slid his hand into Kakashi's and squeezed. "You're the only one for me," he sighed contently.

It was then the Jounin realized something was missing: Iruka's crutch. 'He's not limping,' he told himself. 'But he's obviously in pain.' "Iruka."

"We're too far to go back for it," the Chuunin said softly.

"I'll carry you," Kakashi threatened. Iruka chuckled and glance sideways at him with warm eyes.

"Is that a promise?"

"Damn right it is."

He bit down on his lip to keep from bursting into laughter, and buried his face in Kakashi's vest so no one could see him and he couldn't see them as he was carried along the streets. Kakashi was a man true to his word.


Fifteen minutes earlier and the duo would've met who they've been searching for.

Naruto straddled the swing across from the Academy, rocking side to side, and Sasuke stood under the shade of the tree. Dangling from his fingers, arms crossed over his chest, was a takeout package from Ichiraku. The ramen meant for Iruka was supposed to have been given to him over a week ago, but things had been so hectic and only recently calmed down today. The note saying who the ramen was really from had been removed.

Naruto sighed and clutched the rope tighter. Where was Iruka? He wasn't at Kakashi's and that's where the Jounin said he'd be. Raising his head, his blue eyes widened. "Sasuke, look," he exclaimed in a hushed voice.

The Uchiha opened his eyes and instantly spotted the pink hair. 'Sakura…' "Sakura!" he called out.

Naruto stood and followed the brunet as he ran to the girl. Sakura took her time stopping but didn't turn around to greet her team members. In her hand was a bag of groceries—an errand run for her mother.

Naruto stood on her left and Sasuke on her right. "Sakura-chan," Naruto breathed.

She turned her head away from his voice and took a step forward.

"Sakura, please."

Sakura inhaled sharply at the sound of Sasuke's voice and began walking. I have to get these home—the statement was on the tip of her tongue, but her lips wouldn't part to speak the words.

"Sakura-chan, you won't even talk to us!"

Sasuke placed a hand to the blonde's shoulder. "Sakura," he called out. "Things won't get better if you don't talk to us. That little emotion you showed in the Godaime's office, it was actually out of guilt, wasn't it?"

Sakura stopped and, turning slowly, raised her head to stare at them with solemn green eyes. "You won't… understand," she whimpered.

"Tell us," Naruto pleaded. He reached for her but she stepped back. "You have to tell us, Sakura-chan."

"I have to get these groceries home," she said quickly.

"We'll be at the bridge." With that said, Sasuke grabbed Naruto's arm and they headed off in another direction; they were going to wait at the bridge.

Sakura joined them several hours later at sunset. She refused to step onto the bridge but the boys didn't mind. Naruto was fighting back tears and grinning; he was glad she'd made it. "What do you want to know?" the girl asked softly, nervously threading the end of her shirt through her fingers.

"Why."

She cringed and placed a hand over her abdomen. That was the question that drove the demon's fist into her gut. "You began drifting farther away from me," Sakura mumbled. "And I was considered a problem."

Sasuke held up a hand in front of Naruto to keep him quiet. This was her time.

"I wanted to change in order to catch up with you," Sakura cried. "I thought… I thought Atsuko could help me. I was scared at first, but then he was inside my head, telling me I didn't need you, that I was stronger than you both. I couldn't be, because you two had each other." She stared at Sasuke then the kyuubi. "You could've told me instead of hiding it."

"We weren't even sure ourselves," the brunet sighed. "But you found someone yourself."

'Takai…' New tears sprung to the girl's eyes. Because of her naivety, she had destroyed thousands of dreams. Because of her, so many were dead. Sakura sank to the ground with her hands covering her ears. It was all because of her and there was nothing she could do now.

Naruto pushed by Sasuke and ran to her, falling to his knees.

Sakura looked up and her resolve broke. She threw herself into the boy's arms and sobbed uncontrollably. "Naruto! Gomen… Gomen nasai, Naruto! Gomen nasai!"

The blonde smiled, holding her tightly, and rubbed her back. Sasuke soon joined them on the ground. He wrapped his arms around them both, placing his head atop Sakura's.


"Kakashi?"

The scarecrow rolled onto his side, away from the voice. He had almost fallen asleep, too.

Iruka frowned and poked the man in his ANBU tattoo.

"Lemme alone." Kakashi pulled a pillow over his head. "I don't have anymore stamina."

The younger man blushed and shook the Jounin violently. "That's not what I meant!" He sat back as the other rose and folded his hands in his sheet-covered lap. "Don't you want to know?"

"Know?" Kakashi yawned, scratching his head.

"About me."

"Iruka, I swear I'll strangle you if this is why you woke me up. I already know you."

"You don't!"

Kakashi lowered his hand from his face and stared at the brunet from under his silver bangs, mask in place. "Tell me, then," he said in a serious voice. "It won't stop me from loving you."

Iruka wanted to smile, but the muscles of his face wouldn't agree with him. "You do know something already, don't you?"

"I was told something earlier today. Iruka, it really doesn't matter. As long as you continue to come back to me, and I can return to you, I'll be happy."

"I'm not happy," Iruka sighed. "I hate putting on that mask. When I do, I become what they want: a hunter. Left alone by myself, those I've killed come back to haunt me." He raised a hand, grounding his palm into his eye. "Do you know how many times I've seen Hitsu Sendo? It was even worse after my accident because Atsuko—"

Kakashi claimed Iruka's mouth in a rough kiss. "Stop," he whispered after pulling away. "You can't blame yourself for everything."

The Chuunin hunter blinked and the tears he'd been holding back rolled free. "I can try," Iruka sniffled, wrapping his arms around the paler body.

"What you should try to do is get some sleep," Kakashi sighed, lying back down with the emotionally fatigued young man. He pulled the sheet up around them and tugged his mask back into place. For the second time that night, but now with Iruka's head tucked under his chin, he tried to fall asleep once again.


Sasuke gave a loud yawn and leaned his head atop Naruto's. Dawn had barely broken and they were up and about, more specifically, outside Kakashi's house. "Naruto—"

"I hear movement," the kyuubi hissed, banging on the door. Sasuke had been coerced into making more ramen to add to that from Ichiraku and they wanted Iruka to have it while it was still hot. The door swung open and Naruto's hand froze in mid-knock.

An enraged Kakashi glared down at the boys with mismatched orbs and his mask in place. "Iruka's sleeping."

"Don't give us that," the blonde snapped. Naruto scowled. It had taken a massive amount of integrity to wake himself up and he wasn't going anywhere until he saw the Chuunin. He tilted his head and the napping brunet groaned as he was made to wake up.

Kakashi slowly pulled himself together and stepped aside to let the boys go by. Iruka had his back to the door as the trio of males entered. "I told you," Kakashi sighed, playfully clouting Naruto in the head.

Naruto was too busy staring at the scar covering the dolphin's back to feel the hit. He started toward the bed. Iruka's brown eyes slid open partially, his breathing pattern never changing. Kakashi grinned beneath his mask, shaking his head, and pulled his headband back over the Sharingan orb.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto yelled once beside the bed. Sasuke covered his face with his hand, cursing softly under his breath about the other being an absolute idiot.

"Iruka-sensei, I know you hear me. Wake up! I brought some ramen for you."

"Arigatou," the Chuunin said softly, rolling onto his stomach. He turned his head to the left and smiled at the golden-haired child. Naruto climbed over Iruka to the other side of the bed and sat cross-legged with his back against the wall.

Kakashi sighed deeply as he realized returning to sleep was not a plausible option. He turned away for the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

Sasuke followed him so he could put down the bag of ramen that was now lukewarm. He allowed his hand to linger on the counter before turning to stare at the Jounin's back. He smirked to himself as he realized the word "fate" was tossed about in his thoughts. Neji's words had a way of staying with a person, especially when he preached every day. Sasuke felt as thought that sick, little bastard, "fate", had a tight grip on his life now.

"Don't think so hard," Kakashi said as he reached into the cupboard, back still to the boy. "You'll end up like Naruto."

"Brain dead and clueless?" the brunet scoffed.

"Exactly."

"He doesn't even know Kiba and Shikamaru are a couple. I don't want to see how he'll react when he finds out about you and Iruka-sensei."

Kakashi chuckled and set the pot of coffee to boil. "Iruka'll subdue him." Two sets of raised voices drifted out to them and the Jounin realized he hadn't heard Iruka go at it with Naruto in two months. He crossed his arms and smiled beneath his mask. Maybe things were going back to normal.

§§§

Sakura opened her hand. The hitai-ate headband with the blank slate fell into the garbage bin beside her dresser. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she turned and stared at the remaining two headbands with a smile. The young girl traced her finger over the Shuuha wave crest design and sank into the chair before the dresser. As Kakashi had suggested, she had come to her senses, thanks to the help of Naruto and Sasuke. She folded her arms over the cold metal and placed her head down on them.

'Naruto…' They had all grown in their own ways. Sakura's smile grew brighter, warmer, and she closed her eyes.


Tsunade sighed where she sat at the bar's counter, several shot glasses lying before her. Another was held between her forefinger and thumb. She was thinking about Kakashi and his broken Team 7. She knew it was imperative for the Genins to complete their missions, but reconstructing and mending a life to help keep others alive was much more important—she thought.

Naruto and Sasuke would protect Sakura regardless of what, but in her current state, Tsunade wasn't sure the young girl would.

The blonde downed the warm sake and exhaled deeply. They could think of it as a year-long mission. "Maybe I'll let it count as one." She grinned and slammed her hand down on the counter. "Another!"

Shizune stood not too far away, tears streaming down her face at the Godaime Hokage's behavior.