Chapter 41:
Kakashi woke up first, feeling well rested for the first time in a long time. Naruto had rolled away from him in the night, now sprawled across most of the king size bed. Kakashi chuckled, propping himself up on his elbow to get a better look at the young man. Naruto's hair was wild like always, hanging across his face and fanned out across the pillow behind his head. Kakashi brought a hand up to brush the hair off the young man's face, his thumb brushing softly against his whisker scared cheeks. This was the moment he had looked forward to for so long, Naruto stretched out in his bed, safe and peacefully asleep. Kakashi's heart tightened in his chest, he loved the young man so much, would do anything for him. He had to make sure everything worked out with the Sandaime today, he would fight tooth and nail to ensure Naruto's safety and happiness. He cupped the young man's face in his hand, bringing himself down to kiss gently at his lips. Naruto woke up humming against Kakashi's mouth, a bright smile spread across his lips. "Good morning, Kashi." Kakashi leaned back onto his elbow, giving the young man room to stretch out, "Good morning, love. How did you sleep?" Arms now flung above his head, the blankets sliding down to expose his abdomen, Naruto groaned, "So good." Kakashi fought the urge to pounce on the young man, his toned honey-tanned skin sending a pulse of arousal straight to his groin. "Good, you ready to help me make breakfast?" Naruto sat up and nodded a small blush creeping up on his cheeks, "I umm…I need some clothes." Kakashi smirked, pulling the blankets off the blonde, exposing him. "So you do…" Naruto cupped his groin, scowling at the nin. Kakashi laughed, pushing himself up from the bed, "Help yourself to anything you want in the dresser or closet, I got… distracted last night and forgot to switch over our laundry." Kakashi pulled on his usual Jounin attire, tucking one of his cloth masks into his pants pocket. "I'll go switch over the laundry and meet you in the kitchen." Kakashi made his way down the hall, greeting his hounds on his way to the mudroom. He filled their dishes with kibble and opened the backdoor to the house to let them come and go as they pleased. Switching over the laundry, the kunai Naruto found in the Land of Whirlpools caught his eye. He pocketed the blade, making note to drop it off at the blacksmiths while he was in Konoha. Kakashi made his way back out to the kitchen, Naruto already in the room. The blonde had his back to him, head buried in the open fridge. He had opted to wear a pair of Kakashi's gray sweatpants, forgoing a t-shirt altogether. Kakashi glazed longingly at the blonde's broad shoulders and trim waist. Naruto bent forward to grab for something at the back of the fridge, the fabric around his rear constricting. Kakashi coughed at the groan that tried to escape throat, startling the blonde. Naruto snapped up and spun around, burying a hand in his hair to scratch at his head nervously, "Sorry, I was curious what you have in the fridge." Kakashi's eye roamed the blonde, the gray sweats hung low on his hips, his stomach muscles pulled tight from his upraised arm, finally meeting his eyes. He cleared his throat, "No need to be sorry, love. Everything in this house is yours, help yourself to whatever you like." Naruto smiled at him brightly, turning around to peek back into the fridge, "What are we making for breakfast, Kashi?" Kakashi made his way behind the blonde, wrapping his arms around his waist, burying his face in the blonde's still wild hair and breathing deeply. "How about you steam up some rice and I'll fry us up some tamagoyaki?" Naruto groaned, "That sounds perfect." Kakashi chuckled and kissed the blonde's neck before releasing him. He pointed Naruto in the direction of the rice cooker, the blonde quickly setting it up and searching the panty for rice. Kakashi set a square omelet pan to heat on the stove, while digging eggs out of the fridge. Cracking a bunch into a bowl, he seasoning and whipping them thoroughly. His eye found its way to Naruto, the blonde was carefully measuring rice and water, adding it to the rice cooker. Eggs prepared, he poured them into the hot pan. "Coffee?" Kakashi inquired. Naruto nodded enthusiastically, "I can make it." The blonde scurried back off to the pantry. Kakashi carefully folded the eggs in the pan, watching as the young man started the coffee machine.
In no time at all everything was finished, Kakashi plated them out their breakfast while Naruto poured out two steaming cups of coffee. They sat next to each other at the counter bar, "Itadakimasu," digging in. Naruto ate in his usual enthusiastic manner, after years of living alone and eating only his own meager cooking, everything Kakashi made tasted like heaven. Kakashi laughed, draping an arm around his waist.
Finished with their meal, they quickly tidied up. Dreading that it was time for him to depart, Kakashi pulled Naruto into a tight hug, burying his face into his neck and breathing deeply. He peppered the blonde's face with kisses before pressing a lingering deep kiss to his lips. He took a few steps back from the blonde, making the hand signs to make shadow clones. Two of his clones popped up on either side of Naruto. "I should be on my way. Like I said last night, I am going to leave two clones with you. If anything happens here, this one…" Kakashi pointed to the clone to the left, "will dissipate and send me a warning, while this one…" Kakashi pointed to the clone on the right, "stays behind and protects you until I can get back. All the hounds will be here with you too, they are well trained and will protect you with their lives. I am certain nothing bad will happen in my absence but I don't want to leave anything to chance. If on the off chance something happens to me while in Konoha, I will reverse my clones. That will alert you and the hounds that something went awry, the dogs have been instructed to lead you away to the waterfall across the border. Again, I don't want you to worry, I am certain nothing bad will happen. I just feel better being prepared for anything." Kakashi pulled his mask from his pocket, dragging it over his head, letting it hang around his neck. "Now, remember this place is your home now too. Help yourself to anything you want, everything in this place is yours to do with as you will. I will be back as soon as I can. I love you, Naruto." Naruto was standing stall still, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides, a touch of worry in his eye. "Everything will be okay, love. I promise." Naruto launched himself at the nin, pulling him into a crushing hug, nearly knocking the wind out of him, "Please be careful and come back as quick as you can. I love you too, Kashi. So much." Kakashi hugged him back, rubbing his naked back reassuringly, "Of course, love." Kakashi gave the blonde one final goodbye kiss before pulling up his mask and heading out the door. He made it as far as the bottom of the patio steps before Naruto was chasing him down, "Wait!" Kakashi turned to see the blonde barrelling toward him, knocking him flat onto his back in the grass. Naruto pulled down his mask before pinning his hands beside his head. The blonde stuck his tongue out, licking at Kakashi's lips, slowly rolling his hips over the nins groin. Kakashi was wide eyed, his earlier arousal back with a vengeance. Naruto pressed a soft kiss to his lips, before releasing him and standing up with a smirk, "Thought I would give you added incentive to return quickly." Kakashi pushed himself back up off the grass, catching the blondes mouth hungrily, "You will pay dearly for that my naughly little fox." Kakashi growled out. "I can't wait." Naruto replied, licking the nin's lips playfully. Kakashi kissed him once more, slapping the blonde on the ass as he beat a hasty retreat back into the farmhouse. Now alone on the stone pathway, Kakashi pulled back up his mask and adjusted his pants, chuckling. He set off in a sprint towards Konoha.
Naruto made his way back into the farmhouse, a smirk still on his lips. He made his way down the hall toward the bathroom with the intention of having a very long and very hot shower. Naruto stood under the torrent of hot water until it eventually started to run cold. He pulled back on his borrowed sweats and headed for the living room. A few of Kakashi's ninken were still sleeping in the room. Bisuke and Shiba were curled up on their beds under the bookshelves, while Bull was taking up a majority of the couch with Pukkan resting atop him. Pakkun wasn't asleep, bidding Naruto a quiet good morning. Naruto sat next to the pug on the couch, petting him affectionately. "Good morning to you, Pakkun. Thank you for the warm welcome yesterday." "Of course Naruto, you are Kakashi's mate now so you are family to us. I should be thanking you for digging Kakashi out of that deep hole of depression he had fallen into." Naruto's cheeks flushed, "I don't think I did all that…" "But you did. You forgiving him and loving him has instilled a happiness I have never seen before of my master. I am grateful for you, Naruto." Tears were falling from his eyes now, he quickly brushed them away giving Pakkun a smile, "He changed me too… saved me." Pakkun nuzzled gently at his hand, "I know. I am happy you both found your ways back to each other." Pakkun jumped down off Bull, making his way out the open back door and disappearing from sight.
Naruto was thoughtful for a moment, it really was amazing how much his life had changed in the past few weeks. He went from having absolutely no one in his life that cared for him to having someone who would sacrifice everything for him.
The pictures above the bookshelves caught his eye. He pushed himself up to his feet to get a better look at them. The first one was of Kakashi as a child and someone who must have been his father. They share the same colour hair and the same gray piercing eyes, ever present was his blue cloth mask. The next photo was of a young Kakashi and a boy and girl of similar age, an older blonde haired man standing behind them in frame. Naruto could see his own eyes and hair in the older man, this must be Minato, his father, Kakashi's sensei. He had never seen a picture of him before, had only ever seen his face carved into the Hokage Mountain of Konoha, but back then he had no idea this man was his father. The Fourth Hokage had been his father. Naruto's heart was filled with regret that he never got to meet the man Kakashi spoke so highly of. That meant the other two people in the picture must be Kakashi's deceased team mates, Rin and Obito. These had been Kakashi's people, his family and they were all gone. His heart ached for his nin, he had been through so much suffering in his life. The final picture felt like it drove a dagger into his heart. The picture was of an older Kakashi pushing a small blonde child on a swing, the child laughing happily. The blonde child was him, it was one of the last memories he had of Kakashi before he disappeared from his life. Even in the picture capturing this seemingly happy moment, you could read the despairing look in Kakashi's eye. Kakashi had left because he felt himself cursed, a plague to the people he loved… he loved him even then, just differently. Hot tears were streaming down his cheeks again, the need to be held by his nin overwhelming. He took a few deep breaths to try and calm himself, going to the kitchen to get himself a glass of water. Kakashi's clones were seated at the bar, watching him carefully. He scrubbed his eyes with the back of his hands, embarrassed. Lip trembling, he carefully sipped back the water, looking back to the clones seated before him, "Can… can I hug you?" he asked one of the clones. "Of course." the clone replied in Kakashi's all too familiar voice. Naruto hastily made his way around the counter, clinging desperately to the clone, sobbing into his neck. "It's okay, love. He will be back with you soon." Naruto lingers a moment longer before finally collecting himself and thanking the clone. He makes his way out the back door of the property, quickly spotting some of the ninken dashing through the woods. The sun was working its way higher into the sky, the morning breeze still slightly chilled. He decided to walk the property, wanting to take a better look at the pond he had noticed on the way in. Wading through the tall grass once more, he reached the pond, Kakashi's clones close behind. He walked entirely around the pond's perimeter staring deep into the waters for any signs of moment. Kakashi's clone must have known what he was thinking because he spoke unbidden, "The pond is stocked with fish, Kakashi and his father used to take that canoe out and go fishing when he was a child." Naruto nodded, he would have to remember to ask Kakashi to take him fishing. A small smile found its way to his lips, he couldn't wait for all the time he and Kakashi would have together once they were given a life of freedom. He prayed the Sandaime would be lenient and understanding, refusing to ponder on the opposite. He worked his way back to the farmhouse, slightly chilled because of his lack of shirt. Once back inside he made his way to the bookshelf once more, pulling a couple books from the shelves and sitting down on the plush couch next to a still snoring Bull. The first book that pulled his attention was called 'How to Die an Honorable Shinobi Death'. Naruto reads the summary on the back, then the first two chapters. The book was heavy and dark, the life of a Shinobi is rife with sadness and loneliness. It's one phrase in particular that makes him close the book, no longer willing to read on. 'A Shinobi should avoid bonds, because Shinobis die'. He sets the book down on the end table, quickly picking up the next, hoping it will provide for better reading. The cover of this book, unlike the one he had just set down, is well worn. This book had clearly been read through multiple times, making Naruto hopeful it was a far better read. He read the summary on the back and was surprised to find out it was a love story. The book was called 'Icha Icha Paradise.' Naruto quickly got lost in the first couple chapters, a sweet story about new love and dating. By the fourth chapter Naruto could feel his cheeks burning crimson as he read through a steamy sex scene he was not expecting. His eyes darted around the room, suddenly feeling like he was doing something wrong. He met the eye of one of the clones who was sitting back at the counter bar. The clone chuckled at him, quickly looking away with a smirk, Naruto scowling at his back. He read on a little further, feeling his arousal slowly building. He looked back to the clones, a wicked idea forming in his mind. Pushing himself up off the couch he made his way to the other side of the counter looking over it to the pair of clones watching him intently. "You clones work the same way mine do, right? Memories don't transfer until you are dispersed, correct?" Both clones nodded at the question. "And you both will do anything I say, also correct?" The clones hesitated for a moment but one replied, "Yes, within reason. Kakashi left us with you to take care of you and make sure you have everything you need." Naruto was thoughtful for a moment before asking one last question, "And you won't hurt me, right?" The clones looked stunned, "Of course not. We harbor the same feelings for you as Kakashi, we are an extension of him, we would never do that." Naruto nodded, a smirk playing across his lips, "Good… follow me." Naruto led the clones back into the master bedroom, closing the door and locking it behind them. "I want you both to take off all of your clothes."