I do not own Naruto – if I did, Kakashi would really be great – like a Sannin etc etc etc… and we'd see what's under his mask.

Warning: GenxRai. Language.

Revelation of the Wolf: The Glory of the Hatake Clan

Finding Comfort

"I'd like to think that when he died, he thought well of me."

They were kneeling before the Namashi family tombstone.

"Probably wishful thinking, huh?"

The honey haired Jounin rotated his senbon around in his mouth – from one end of his wide lips to the other – and said nothing, merely shifting closer to place one large callused hand on the back of his friend.

He wasn't really good at this sob stuff.

And truth hurts.

So he said nothing but merely rubbed his saddened friend's back and tried to think up something wise to say. Something worthy of the philosopher that Genma found inside himself more and more each day.

"Of course," Raido sighed. "This is really dumb. Don't try to tell me it isn't, Genma."

Genma kept his silence.

"I know that this is a waste of our time and sitting here looking at this block of stone isn't going to really make things any better. I know you're thinking that."

"…. Noooo……."

A beat.

"I was thinking –"

Raido waited.

All my life Genma has made things okay. Like bandaging me up after a tough mission. Or providing comfort…. Or other things…. And he may be pessimistic and have a tough guy exterior but he's wise. Wise with years….. I'm so lucky to have him at my back…. How could I ever thank him?

"To be honest, I was thinking about how I can't lie to you."

"Eh?"

"I can't lie and say he thought highly of you on his death bed – because I don't know. You could talk to your brothers and sisters of course – there's that option. Maybe they could tell you. But if you really seek acceptance from him, that's the path you must take."

Raido blinked.

He had never considered going back to the family dojo to ask his siblings.

"I guess this fight really shook up some things from the past…" probed Genma.

Raido hadn't been really specific.

"Yeah. It was like the old times. And, yeah, I beat the guy – but it was scary to know that there was that ….. weakness…… I don't know….. that genjutsu or whatever it was preyed on a part of me that I didn't know was there. Shoved down all these years."

Genma sighed.

Raido shook his head, rubbing his tears off his face.

"Don't you think about your parents – ever?"

There was a silent pause.

"Every day."

Another long pause as Raido suddenly became aware of tenseness within his friend.

"There was nothing of them."

A beat.

"Nothing."

Raido shivered as he noticed Genma's sad eyes which were slightly watery with unshed tears. Tears he never let fall.

"They aren't – aren't on the monument."

He bowed his head.

"And their bodies were never returned."

The older Jounin sighed, his mouth quirked upward.

"Whatever."

Raido placed a conciliatory hand on Genma's, clasping the warmth and the senbon in the lax fingers.

One tear fell to sink into loam. It was the tear he never let fall.

"But one thing I know. My father always told me that we make our own destiny. That we walk our own paths and nobody can walk it for us. And that, with the memory of those who fell behind, we must walk forward for them, to live for them – and thus, live in honour, respect and with courage."

"He sounds like a wise man."

"Well… I didn't really understand it then – I was only ten. But weeks later when the news came – that's what I remembered of him. His last wise words to me. I've tried so hard to live it out."

Raido smiled sadly.

"You have. I'm just the stubborn one holding onto ghosts – and I'm dragging you down too."

"No you're not."

"Am too."

"Are not."

"Am too."

The two giggled rather hysterically.

Raido stopped first and sighed.

"Penny for your thoughts," Genma said lightly.

"I was just thinking how much I owe you."

"Damn right."

"And –"
Their noses bumped slightly as Raido's eyes closed.

"How I should thank you."

A long kiss – gentle and tentative in the emotion filled moment.

"You have." Genma echoed. "I'm just the greedy one who wants more – and it looks like you're losing to it too."

Raido murmured something (sounded like 'Am not') into his friend's lips and ran his fingers up into his friends raggedly longish hair – Raido made a mental note to cut it soon. The thought was banished.

Genma's tongue teased open Raido's lips and slid into his friend's warmth tasting some sort of spicy rice sauce.

"Mmmm…."

Genma leaned back and smacked his lips.

"What?"

Raido glared at his friend who had broken up the tender moment.

"You taste like rice. We need to get some sake into you."

Then they burst out laughing and left the cemetery – running. Raido screeching at Genma's outrageous comments.

They didn't look back once.

"So, in the end, Obito," Kakashi murmured. "I think it'll be okay. I guess Genma and Iruka are right. They tease me about being uptight and I guess I should learn to relax a bit more. Not that I'm going to let down my mask or anything – but you know…. Socialize more…. Take a couple of A-ranks with some of the guys or something. These solo missions really make me feel like I'm losing it again – like the time I was in ANBU. Anyway, I guess I should follow my own advice and – oh! It's my personal pest! Right on cue…."

He stopped.

Iruka was walking up carrying a bunch of white flowers, looking solemn. After laying them down carefully, he stood, bowed his head and folded his hands in silence. Kakashi rose as well and watched as the chestnut-haired Chuunin sighed and opened his eyes.

"Thought provoking mission, huh?"

"Yes, Kaka-sensei."

"Some can be like that. Thank kami, not all the time."

"It's not that bad – I was just hoping they saw and were proud."

Kakashi didn't quite know what to say. He never thought much about his father – it was better now – but he never considered whether or not he was proud.

Something to think on.

But then, Iruka had always been a momma's boy. And his father's boy.

Iruka just screamed 'nice family guy'.

Kakashi felt odd and scary beside him. Not that he'd ever admit it, of course. Kakashi was a wolf. Plain and simple. A loner. Well… wolves ran in packs…. And didn't he have a family now?

Not just the shinobi of Konoha but Lightning's Howl and his family are mine as well. We're all in this together, I guess.

"I'm sure, Iruka-sensei, that they're proud. They always thought well of you – how could things change?"

"I plateaued."

"That can happen to anybody. And you've grown. This mission proved it. Tsunade-sama acknowledged it. Get over it. Stop whining."

"I'm not whining, dammit."

Good. He's out of his sulks now….

"Ohhhh? Well…. My impression of you coming up here was that you were this close to depression and perhaps suicide. Considering jumping off the memorial and all that…."

"Whaaaat?" squawked Iruka, incredulously. "I was showing respect to the dead!"

"By looking like a dying cat?"

"I do not look like a dying cat, idiot!"

"Hmmm…"

"And you can't die by jumping off this stone anyways…."

Iruka humphed before he suddenly realized something.

Kakashi wasn't going to hoodwink him this time.

"Speaking of which – who's been here for too long? Eh?"

"Now, now," Kakashi said. "How can I say this? I've been –"

"No! No! You're coming back with me."

"A drink, perhaps?"

"Welll……"

"Just one?"

"O-o-okay."

"I'll pay."

"Fine. One drink. Only. One. Drink. You pay."

"Let's go then," Kakashi jumped away – Iruka following with a screech.

They tied at the inn.

"You've gotten faster." Kakashi said.

"Training."

"Yeah. You can stop rubbing it in."

When they entered, there was an inebriated roar.

Tons of people were there. And even a few girls showed. Shizune. Tsubaki. Hayate's girlfriend. Iruka found himself between Shizune and Tsubaki – already he felt himself going walleyed. Kakashi appeared out of nowhere with a small glass of something.

Shizune and Tsubaki choked on their Tropical Rages. Genma's eyebrow rose microscopically. Already he and Raido were drunk – Raido was in the clingy stage and Genma wasn't complaining.

Iruka shot it down his throat coughing at the burn and then smiled as warmth spread through his body.

"Kakashi…." Shizune hissed.

Kakashi just watched with glee as the high alcohol content hit the Chuunin's bloodstream faster than you could say "Itadikimasu".

An hour later….

Everybody was highly inebriated – even Kakashi had snuck a couple of drinks.

Anko already had to be separated from Ibiki – she had tried to knock him out after he groped her up.

He claimed irresponsibility – but she said it had definitely been motivated.

Well, Kakashi thought, noticing that she had lost her coat some time ago, it's not like she's dressing responsibly….. geez! She might as well flash a sign, 'fuck me!'…..

Ibiki had then been pushed down to sit by (an increasingly nervous) Genma – Anko left with a rather disgruntled Kurenai, since Asumo had left her quickly at the sight of the rambunctious purple-haired examiner.

Genma started to brag aboutthe newest scandal - Koharu's obsession. Ibiki tried to top him - ANBU sex ed. In the end, Genma groped around in his pocket and melodramatically waved around a sheaf of pictures.

"Better yet, Ibiki – check. These. Out."

Genma exaggeratedly laid out his precious photos – copies only.

Raido grinned.

"Yesh! Shexshy! Top shecret, ri' Gen-genma!"

"Ehhhhhhhh?"

Gai leaned over and nearly fell on top of the table, Kakashi held him back and tried to peer over everybody's heads. The smell of mixed spirits assaulting his nose made him drunk enough….

And was it Iwashi who was lighting up a – what the hell?

"Oooooooooohhhhhhhh!"

"N-n-n-noooooo! I'm shooooo drunk! I-I-I cannnn be seenn' this!"

"Heh! Make me shum copiesh, Gennnnmmmaaaaaa!"

"KKKKAAAAWWWWWAIIIII!"

Kakashi managed to get past the drunk Chuunins and Jounins to get a look.

It was a photo.

Early early morning. Iruka. And him. Snuggling. No. He wasn't snuggling – he hadn't lost his dignity but Iruka – gods – Iruka.

"Liked it? Eh? Kaka-shhhhheeee?" hicced Anko, punching Kakashi really hard on the arm. "Kawaii 'ruka?"

"NOT ME!" Kakashi said, firmly. "Take another look – can you see straight?"

"Nooo….. " Kurenai interjected. She wasn't as drunk but was trying to as fast as she could. "He's so asexual he couldn't get on with anything – looks like non-con to me."

The girls burst into high pitched giggles as Kakashi pouted and folded his hands in exasperation.

"No respect," he mumbled.

"What a lucky break, 'Ruka!" Kotetsu said boisterously to his half-passed out friend. "Ruka with Kashi!"

Izumo was swinging precariously upside down from the rafters while the bartender was resignedly keeping an eye out for him.

It wouldn't have been the first time a Chuunin or two lost his balance dancing under the roof.

Iruka's eyes focused sharply then widened.

"Fuck!"

"Yep! That's what you've been doing, eh?"

"Good for you, 'ruka!"

"Waaaaayyyyy toooo goooo!"

Iruka was wailing.

"Nooooo…."

"It's okaaayyyyy," Shizune said. "I-i-i-I think itsh hoootttt!"

"Yyyyeeeeaaaaahhhh!" Tsubaki agreed.
Iruka's eyes brown eyes filled.

He'd hit the weepy stage.

"Awwww!"

Everybody cooed over him as the cute Chuunin melted in a pool of tears and a quivering lip which had the impact of ammo on a sensitive man. Even Ibiki was moved.

Kakashi sighed and shook his head. The whole party is crying along with the silly pansy…. Geez! I think it's time I took this poor innocent home.

"Poor bonbon!" Genma sighed. "Kakashi, you'd best get him home."

Iruka managed to extricate himself from the booth, still clutching the photo, and stumbling out of the inn, he tripped down the porch and fell on his face.

"You okay?" asked Kakashi, with more bounciness in his step than usual.

"I'm ffffiiiiiiiiiinnnneee!. Just greeeeaaaaatttt!"

"You sure? You're on the way to my house, so I think I'll go with you –"

Fatigue and drink doesn't mix too well, Kakashi thought with a sigh as they staggered down the street swaying and holding each other up.

Tsunade walking down the street stared as they passed.

Iruka was calling Kakashi 'Shizune' and was feeling him up, while Kakashi's lovely baritone was lifted up singing an opera song and then suddenly switched to a very pervy paragraph from Icha Icha Paradise.

A long pervy paragraph.

Tsunade's eyes twitched.

How the hell –? He must've read that over and over and over again to remember THAT much off by heart! The idea is disgusting! Ewww! Something's got to be done about this!

She was still twitching when their voices faded in the distance.

And why are they walking each other home again?

A light bulb went on.

Bad habits! Forming bad habits! Where's Shizune when you need her! My two best shinobi following the way of Genma and Raido. And I know Izumo and Kotetsu aren't far behind. Dammit! We need more women for these guys – or else, there'll be no future Shiranuis or Namashis or worse yet – no Uminos or Hatakes.

Must think on this…..

Iruka made it home. Kakashi didn't. He ended up in bed with Iruka.

UP COMING: Kakashi and Iruka wake up together? Discovered by whom? What an Academy teacher to do? Kakashi thinks hard about life in general. Startling revelations made.A brief vision of the future.

p.s. Don't worry. Although I think KakIru fics are cute, this fic does not suscribe to that.