Warnings: A couple of spoilers here and there, that's about it.

Pairing: KakaNaru

Summary: Naruto's back from training with Jiraiya, he's no longer a child, and he's still the same person Kakashi has a bit of a crush on.

Genre: Humor, WAFF

Rating: PG

""-speech

''-thoughts

Three years, it had been three long, horribly quiet years since Naruto had gone off to train with Jiraiya.

Over these years Kakashi couldn't help but feel guilt weighing down upon him.

He'd always spent so much time training with Sasuke, hardly even bothering with Naruto. The kid had access to the Kyuubi's chakra, he didn't need anymore help from him.

Sometimes he remembered when Naruto asked to be taught Chidori, right after he had beaten Gaara in the forests surrounding Konoha. Kakashi had more or less waved off his request, Naruto just didn't have the concentration to do it.

He vaguely remembered a flash a pain in those beautiful eyes before confidence overtook them.

One other moment he remembered is when he had given Team seven their forms to enter the Chuunin exam, Naruto had launched himself at him, and wrapped his arms around his neck while loudly claiming that he, Naruto, loved him, Kakashi.

Oh he knew Naruto didn't mean it that way, but sometimes he couldn't help but blush at the memory. It was during these times he was very grateful for his mask., it wouldn't do to have him blushing like a mad man when trying to sneak away from Gai.

It was strange to think over and even stranger to feel, but Kakashi actually missed Naruto even more then Sasuke, hell, a lot more than Sasuke. He even missed him to the point where the blonde would occupy most of his thoughts.

'Kakashi, you're a sick old man.' He'd think to himself every night as he gazed up at the sky from his small bedroom, silently wondering where Naruto was.

The only comfort Kakashi had during three long years, was that Naruto was a child, a wide eyed, innocent child whom he wouldn't dare harm, touch or love.

But it all changed when he came back.

Sure, Naruto was still the same loud mouth ninja who was number one at surprising you. He was no longer a child now, and that surprised Kakashi very much.

Going into that familiar training area, with the jingle of familiar bells guiding him he saw two familiar faces, the same as three years ago, but different.

He still couldn't believe that Naruto had taken the bell by beginning to tell Kakashi the ending of his precious new Icha Icha Paradise book, and Kakashi had closed his eyes so that the Sharingan wouldn't read Naruto's lips. When his eyes opened again, Naruto and Sakura had the bell.

Naruto really had grown up, but at the same time, he was still the same way he'd been as a child, he was still the same unpredictable individual that Kakashi grudgingly admitted to having a crush on.

Missions were similar to the ones that happened all those years ago, easy and low classed enough for Naruto to loudly complain about it, saying how they were much more classified ninjas, they should definitely get some A and B missions.

Kakashi never told him to stop complaining, he kind of liked the sound of Naruto's voice. Too bad Sakura seemed to be noticing something was a bit off, sometimes that girl was far to smart for her own good, and far to confident too. One day after training she'd asked to speak with him alone, and when they were out of Naruto's hearing range she'd simply said. "Good luck, you'll need it if you want Naruto to get it through his thick skull that you like him."

He supposed that was good advice, although a bit obvious, Kakashi had seen how the Hyuuga heiress had been fawning over Naruto for years and the blonde never caught on.

So with Sakura's background support Kakashi slowly and subtly tried to make his romantic attentions known. He'd be correcting Naruto's fighting stance by holding his limbs in the proper place, he'd run his finger's through Naruto's hair after he completed a mission successfully, and he'd often buy the boy ramen after training, somehow getting Naruto to hold his hand the whole way to the ramen stand.

But it seemed that the normal version of subtle was far too delicate for Naruto to catch the meaning of. "Maybe I'm acting more like a father then someone who wants to start a relationship?" 'You're old enough to be his father you sick old man.' But Kakashi remained undeterred and kept on track, getting bolder and bolder everyday until it came to a point where Kakashi was sure he could see Sakura shaking with the urge to scream. DAMN IT NARUTO! YOU BAKA! HE LIKES YOU! KAKASHI-SENSEI LIKE YOU!"

Naruto would catch sight of Sakura's angry expression and his eyes would widen slightly. "Nani?" He'd ask in a cute, almost frightened voice, and then Sakura would go away and destroy many inanimate objects.

'That is one of the scariest girls I know.' Kakashi thought to himself as he watched Sakura stomp away, leaving a trail of destroyed trees and rocks in her wake.

"Well, I don't think Sakura's going to come back, so why don't we call it quits for today?" Kakashi asked as he turned towards Naruto, who had a thoughtful expression on is face.

"Kakashi-sensei?" "Yes?" "Do you like Sakura-chan?"

Kakashi nearly fell over from the shock.

"W-what!" "You do don't you, you always spend time training with me to get her jealous." Naruto looked so proud of himself that Kakashi didn't really have the heart to tell him he was wrong.

"She seemed really mad when she stomped away just now, maybe you should go and tell her your master plan before she thinks you don't like her." Naruto said slyly while elbowing Kakashi in the ribs gently.

"I thought you had a crush on Sakura." Kakashi said dryly as he looked to the newly formed path through the forest made by the pink haired shinobi. 'May the Gods be with the man who ends up with her.'

"Nah! I kind of grew out of that phase when I was training with Ero-sennen, I was surrounded by women all the time and they were all so creepy…" Naruto shuddered a bit before brightening up. "But you should go tell her how you feel Kakashi-sensei, before she decides that Lee is her true soul mate." Kakashi cocked an eyebrow and the grinning blonde before asking.

"Don't you think it's wrong for me to be in love with someone over a decade younger than I am?" Naruto shook his head furiously and Kakashi felt a small shimmer of hope grow within him.

"No, love is love, if you truly love someone nothing matters, not their age, not their gender, not their personalities, you love them for who they are and nothing about them matters except that they are themselves, and you love them." Naruto finished in a whisper, a small blush tinting his cheeks and Kakashi found himself pondering over his statement.

'Not their gender, huh?' He felt the small amount of hope grow within him ten-fold as he decided to go out on a limb.

"Naruto, do you like men?" He didn't answer, but by the blush spreading across his face and at the tips of his ears Kakashi felt it was now or never, if he wanted to know how Naruto felt about him, he'd have to act fast.

"Naruto, what would you say if I told you that I wasn't trying to get close to you to make Sakura jealous?" The boy actually looked shocked, as if the thought had never entered his mind.

"Then why would you try to get close to me Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked with wide eyes full of wonder.

"Because I like you." He replied softly and before Naruto could say anything back Kakashi pulled down his mask and pressed their lips together for a short and sweet moment.

He pulled away warily and turned the other way, pulling his mask back up. "I understand if you think I've crossed my boundaries as your teacher but-" He stopped when he felt Naruto's small hand slip into his and give a light squeeze. He looked down to the boy at his side, surprise evident on his face when Naruto grinned back up at him.

"I like you too Kakashi-sensei, I like you a lot." He said with a small blush colouring his cheeks once again and Kakashi couldn't help but smile happily under his mask.

"How about I treat you to some ramen today?" He asked as his feet already began walking down the familiar path, Naruto trotting alongside him.

"I'd like that Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said as he gripped Kakashi's hand firmly, unlike the gentle, wary way he'd held his hand before, it was almost like he was being possessive, like he felt Kakashi would suddenly let go of his hand and forget that Naruto ever existed.

'Don't worry Naruto, I'll never hurt you, never.' Kakashi thought to himself as he ran his other hand through Naruto's hair, something was different about this walk, about Kakashi's chaste touches and whispered compliments.

Naruto finally knew what everything meant, Kakashi loved him, and that was all that mattered.