I finally figured out how to do the line breaks! Argh it was messing everything up as I'm clearly a new user of this site I'm quite lost and frustrated coz of it. But it's fine now! It's not exactly a line break but it gives you an idea of the change of parts/scenario. Hurr. Sorry for giving you a hard time from the previous chapters coz of it. I fixed them already. Enjoy the next chapter.

ix. Proposal Accepted

Unconventionally, Kakashi found himself in front of the Hokage making his spontaneous report about his and Naruto's mission in Iwakagure. Who else will, anyway? He won't bet on Naruto doing the reports.

In such a joint mission like that, the Hokage is still remained the person to hear the progress or the summary of the mission.

"Taking down a Kekkei Tota…huh…" Tsunade hummed, her face firmly planted on the back of her wrist as she assessed the situation, "He didn't try on his infamous changing of heart technique, I see? A Kekkei Tota is so rare they could pass on as a myth in existence. Would have been a huge deal to have him as an ally."

"As I said, that was beyond Naruto already. The Kekkei Tota is barely human in nature. A total psycho."

Tsunade nodded. "Well, I supposed if the Kekkei Tota posed as a threat, I am glad we put a stop to it."

Kakashi nodded. He could feel that the Hokage is merely holding up with this conversation and that the same as Naruto's attention on him, the Hokage has only a fleeting attention focused to this conversation at all.

Why is everybody so distracted around him? Well, he can't blame Naruto. The young man must have been feeling so strangled just being around him. But the Hokage too? Now, that's something worth pondering upon.

Usually, he would find this an opportunity to escape and bask on his laziness seeing this is just the day for it. At this point, he bets that the Hokage won't even bat an eye if he takes his leave.

But because sometimes, even one time in a hundred occasions, he tries to be considerate. Abandoning the possible day of downing himself on his Icha Icha books, he perked an eye to the Hokage, "Something bothering you, Hokage-sama?"

The Hokage groaned, feeling embarrassed to be caught distracted. After all, the reports she recently keeps receiving is absolutely bugging her to no ends. Honestly, she just wants to enjoy a vacation, give the friggin' hat to whoever wants it and just disappear to where nobody knows her.

But looks like that's not happening soon.

Seeing that Kakashi is one of the most trusted Shinobi around on her command, she decided to fill him in on at the matter at hand. "Remember the force that has sent really qualified shinobis from all five villages to death for months now, Kakashi?"

Kakashi nodded. He sure knew. Though he hasn't been directly handling the case himself, he made sure he knew partly of it. "What's of it?"

"It proved to be a huge dangerous nuisance." The Hokage said as she turned to look at the new Konoha. "As of now, hundreds have lost their lives. The traces are confusing. The counter attacks look like they were defensive… and the jutsus used are somewhat leading to the conclusion that they were of Konoha's."

Kakashi was quiet. Also assessing what he heard, he muttered, "Sure, Kurama had an idea why so…"

Tsunade raised a brow, "Kurama? Did Naruto tell you?"

Kakashi shook his head, "No… Kurama does not want Naruto knowing about it…or me. The kyuubi said that he sort of can tell what is happening but not gonna spill it until he's quite sure himself."

"How do you know about this?"

Nonchalantly, Kakashi replied, "When Naruto falls asleep, Kurama comes out and talk to me."

"When Naruto falls asleep…" Tsunade repeated as veins on her temples instantly pops out, a fist made contact with the table that almost crushed it. "Don't tell me you two are already…. KAKASHI!"

Kakashi's eye widened as he realized what he said made the hokage think of such thing. He jumped back into a safe distance as he flailed his hands defensively, "Don't get me wrong…it wasn't that…" Kakashi was then forced to tell her how Kurama was able to converse with him.

With this Tsunade calmed down and sat back down to her chair. She then huffs as she said, "So… the nine tails knew what's going on. Summon Naruto."

"Why?" Kakashi instantly asked.

"And why not?"

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Kakashi leaned on his left leg, finding it hard to keep his calmness. "If Kurama decides he doesn't want Naruto in this one, sure he has his reasons. Instead, would you fill me in with all the details? Especially when you said that the jutsus used are of Konoha's. Are we dealing with missing-nins? Is it Orochimaru's doing?"

Tsunade sighs problematically. Only the thoughts of Orochimaru being part of it is already making her head hurts. She hopes that the former team mate doesn't have any part on this one. "Let's have a walk to the Intelligence office. Ibiki and the other elite jonins have a lead, I believed." Tsunade stood up and assumed to the door.

So, yesterday was all about this, eh? Kakashi thought as he remembered Ibiki and the others are cramming over something. If this certain force has pulled this much ruckus over the whole Intelligence unit, then this is not an easy ordeal. "Of course, Hokage sama." He nodded as he followed the Hokage.

On the door, Tsunade looked back to him and asked, "How are you and the brat? Did something good happen on your joint mission in Iwa? I heard you two went alone together?" The Hokage eyed him knowingly.

Kakashi was not able to cover the gloom that crossed his eyes with the quick eyes the Hokage has. That answered everything as the Hokage decided to keep quiet, not asking any further.

"Ne, Naruto-kun. Tell Iruka sensei what you want for your birthday."

Naruto huffed. His arms curled behind his head as he walked along the great river of Konoha. He isn't the person to fuss about his own birthday for he knew his birthday is as well the death anniversary of the two of his most special people. Aside from that, why his academy sensei asking him about the day when it was also the day his own parents died. The two of them both lost their parents that fateful night, after all.

"Naruto…"

"I don't want anything, Iruka sensei." He pouted, "Besides, I'm old enough for such thing."

This made Iruka behind him erupt in deep laughter, "Oh come on, Naruto. I know you're a sucker to this. You want a huge tall cake, don't you?"

The idea of that almost had him drool. He's not much of a cake person but it's only the day he divulge himself to the sweet treats. Yet, before he could succumb, he grunted. "Stop it, Iruka sensei. It's a month away, there's no need to fuss over it so soon."

Iruka eyed him suspiciously, "See, I know you're counting the days."

"I do not."

"Yes, you do."

"I do not." Naruto looked back and glared at his sensei, his face getting red because sure, he does look forward for his birthday because it's the only day he could pamper himself fully to the attention of the villagers without making a huge ass of himself.

It only made him groaned more when Iruka only smiled at him knowingly coupled with a hand on his hair, ruffling it lovingly. "Our Naruto is growing up." He muttered and removed his hand to walk pass Naruto, leading now.

Naruto stood there motionlessly. How he has a feeling that his Iruka sensei actually meant something more than what he understands for now.

Does Iruka sensei know about Naruto's thoughts over the jonin sensei? If he does, Naruto doesn't know how to explain it but at the same time, he has this huge desire to confide his feelings to the academy sensei. Iruka just always have the answers to about almost everything of Naruto's predicaments.

"Iruka sensei…" He started.

The chunin looked back at him, "Ne, Naruto." The sensei's jet black eyes looked at him with those unsurpassed understanding eyes, making it always so easy to just tell the chunin his troubles.

But Naruto found himself unable to speak because yet again, what is exactly troubling him? Kakashi? If so, why is exactly that troubling him? Because what he feels for Kakashi is more than ordinary? Yes, it truly does now that he gets to understand it one bit.

He has loads of sensei; Jiraiya, Kakashi and Iruka, just to name a few. But comparing what he feels for the two of them to what he feels for Kakashi, is quite different. As he said quite a lot, it was only to Kakashi he feels certain things.

Around Kakashi, he feels warmed, feels like his fingers couldn't stop from tracing the jonin's face and his heart beats completely irregular. If he remembers clearly, there's more than a million times he found himself harbouring butterflies on his stomach whenever in close proximity with the jonin.

Actually admitting to these comes the denial. He does not truly feel that, does he? Because, normally you don't find same sex attractive to get butterflies on your tummy. And most especially you don't just simply fall for your sensei who is at least nearly thirteen years older than you!

Fuck damn it. Can you fall any deeper, Uzumaki Naruto? He groaned to himself and Kurama just have to snicker at him of all times. And you too damn fox! He snarled which gained him another snicker, only louder now. Urg.

"Naruto… are you okay?"

Naruto looked up to Iruka and assessed the sensei. Clearly, Iruka gives him different feeling. Similarly, he knew that Iruka and Kakashi both care for him but why does he earns for Kakashi's more and slightly desiring it to be more than that?

Naruto eyed the worried chunin who stepped closer to him, hand on his shoulder. So close yet Naruto doesn't feel butterflies on his stomach. What if he kisses him? Just at the thought, Naruto tiptoed and gave Iruka's lips a firm kiss and the next thing he felt is a good hard jab on his head by the enraged red-faced chunin.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT, NARUTO?" Iruka looked scandalized as he scrammed away, looking around to see if someone else witnessed that.

Naruto merely caressed the spot on his head as he dejectedly concluded. "It wasn't the same at all." He started walking ahead.

Seeing this, Iruka finally got a grip of himself, "Hey, you idiot! Naruto!" He tried to catch up with the gloomy teenager. Now walking beside him, he inquired, "Kakashi, wasn't it?" He could clearly see how the name alone made that swift change on the man's eyes.

"I kissed him, Iruka-sensei!"

"And it feels different to what you did to me?"

Naruto nodded, looking away. "Sorry, Iruka sensei. I know I shouldn't have done that."

Iruka looked up at the sky. To say that he wasn't shock, he has a reason. It takes a good eye to notice how Kakashi truly feels for Naruto and it wasn't the same as how he himself feels for the jinchuriki.

The first time Iruka realized this was a good few years ago and to say that he didn't get mad was clearly an understatement. But he's also not the kind to act recklessly. There were more than hundred times he tried to sway Kakashi away from falling even deeper and he tried every possible methods to put a stop to it but it only made him realized that Kakashi's affection to Naruto is there to stay.

If Kakashi ever felt like Iruka would murder him for real once he lay an unnecessary hand on Naruto, Iruka wouldn't blame him. Iruka had been such a cockblocker for some time now.

Though, at this time, Iruka absolutely gave up and honestly speaking, he couldn't wait for the two to finally get together seeing it himself how this progressed over time.

"And how do you feel now, Naruto?"

Naruto sat down at the bench facing the wide river. "I don't know, sensei. It was wrong… and… I don't want to think about it. It confuses me. Besides, Iruka sensei… he is my sensei and he's male…I can't be gay…"

"Genma and Raidou look fine by themselves." Iruka said, remembering the two elite jonins have come out being together a good few years ago. It didn't pose a problem at all with their career or with the villagers.

But he knows where the blond is coming from. Both Kakashi and Naruto are huge figures of Konoha, it will stir unnecessary arguments if such relationship will exist.

"How do you feel about it, Iruka sensei… me wanting Kakashi sensei?"

Iruka wanted to say, hell no, Naruto and find a perfect girl and pass on your legacy. But as he thinks about it clearly, now that he is both aware of the two men's feelings for each other, he couldn't think of any other person suitable for them. "I would say you picked such a troublesome fella. He's lazy and all he does is bury his nose on his perverted books but… you know, he's sweet."

"He hates me now, Iruka sensei."

"Who? Kakashi?"

Naruto nodded. "After I kissed him…he…he…"

"He did what, Naruto?" Iruka found himself gritting his teeth. That damn Kakashi better not did something bad! Never mind the fact that he has given his blessings but if he finds out he forced himself to Naruto, he sure make use of all the torturous ways he learned from both Anku and Ibiki to Kakashi.

"Never mind, Iruka sensei…it was my fault." Naruto looked away.

Iruka heaved a sigh. "Did you two talk about it?"

Naruto shook his head.

"Did he try to talk about it?"

Naruto nodded.

"So, why didn't you let him talk about it?"

"To come out to him that I'm possibly gay and I like him…isn't so easy, sensei." Naruto pouted. "And here I thought only a thousand year old fox wouldn't understand how I feel… why is it everybody thinks it was that easy."

Iruka laughs at this. "It is that easy, Naruto."

"You're one to talk." Naruto huffed, "And you're still single."

Iruka's face reddened once again, "Don't make it about me."

Naruto turned away, pouting at his own realization that indeed he is harbouring more than ordinary feelings towards his Kakashi sensei. What will Sakura and Sasuke say? Bet they'll be disgusted.

"You know what, Naruto." Iruka stood up and gave his favourite former student a comforting smile, "Let's go for Ichiraku ramen and let's find a way to make that copy-nin fall for you." Iruka laughs, finding Naruto's face hilarious.

"You think this is funny, huh, Iruka sensei!?"

Iruka just laughed as he started to walk towards the said ramen shop. "Because this is just so hilarious, Naruto."

"No it's not!"

"It is so."

"It's not!"

"What if I bet you that that silver haired jonin has the hots for you too?" Iruka raised a brow.

Naruto stopped on his track as his eyes widened and his heart stopped instantly. Oh, he wanted to believe that. But he's also not that kind of an idiot to succumb in such fantasy. His face fell into utter seriously, "That's not funny, Iruka sensei…" As he walked off.

Iruka stopped laughing now altogether. He didn't meant to upset his former student. "Naruto… I don't mean it that way."

"Okay, Iruka sensei, tab is yours! Ramen here I come!"

Kakashi slowly stopped walking as he looked up to see Iruka and now the disappearing blond jinchuriki on top of the hills. He knew he kind of heard the male a few seconds ago. Well, at least Naruto is handling himself well. Looks like the blond is back to his good form.

"Kakashi…"

Kakashi looked back to his companion, the fifth Hokage. He sighs, "I know what you're gonna say. I completely let it blow up all over my face. And I deserved it."

Tsunade smiled understandingly, "I told you it will take time. You're dealing with that brainless brat. What do you expect? What I would suggest might actually help you get occupied, at the same time, it will actually allow Naruto to get as much time to think over it himself."

Kakashi knew where this conversation is leading him to. "Alright, I'll take the hat." He said, sighing more troublesomely now. He can't tell if it's wise for him or not but the Hokage is right, it might actually distract him from thinking too much on how a failure he is when it comes with dealing with his emotions towards Naruto.

"Thank you, Kakashi." Tsunade smiled, an appreciative smile graces her face. Fatigue slowly easing out of her face.

"Ah nah," Kakashi hummed, looking at the sky, "Sorry for being a hard-ass and not doing it a lot earlier. You clearly deserved your retirement. I can't say I'll try my best but I'll try to hold on to it until Naruto is well able for it."

Tsunade just nodded, seeing well that the future of Konoha is well taken care of by the time of her retirement. "You're crowning is set next week!" She announced.

"I wish to keep it a secret until then." Kakashi mentioned.

"No problem."

"Again, again…again!?" Tsunade growled, her veins popping out again. "SUMMON NARUTO HERE!"

Kakashi who was standing beside the Hokage got alarmed, "Wait there, Genma-kun!"

Tsunade looked up to her future answer of her retirement, "What's the meaning of this, Kakashi? We have to get Naruto and end this threat as quickly as he can."

Kakashi would agree for sure but his gut feeling doesn't allow him to. "We will send Naruto to Suna for his mission per usual. Let the other specialized jonins to take care of this one." The way he addresses this made Tsunade felt like she finally lost all her authorities.

"If you would tell me why, Kakashi, I would understand."

Kakashi grunted as he said. "We all don't want to admit it but all the chakra signatures left on all the scenes are somewhat similar to…" Even Kakashi couldn't mention the names himself. "Somebody is pulling forbidden jutsu here and I don't want Naruto involved in this… what happened in the 4th Shinobi War is already enough for him to deal with."

"So… even you believed?"

"Kurama must have felt the same…hence the reason why he wouldn't just let Naruto dive into this." Kakashi explained.

"And what about you? Will you be okay with this?" Tsunade asked. After all, apart from Naruto, the other person who would be affected by this situation is Kakashi himself.

Kakashi pulled a sarcastic smile underneath his mask, "I can't wait to meet them."

Konoha Gates

"Naruto!"

Naruto looked back and found Sakura and Konohamaru running after him. His brows furrowed and laughs, "What are you, guys, doing?"

"You idiot, Naruto! You never read your mission details!" Sakura once again glared at him and handed him the mission scroll.

Naruto confusedly eyed the scroll. "This is just my follow up mission in Suna. I always go alone." He defensively said but did not opposed as he finished the details. "And Konohamaru too, I see."

Konohamaru who has grown to be such a reliable chunin smiled at him and nodded.

Naruto nodded back and noticed another team walking towards the gates, behind them were Tsunade, Shizune and Kakashi. Naruto's brow raised and decided to run towards the group. "Where are you, guys, going?"

Sai, Hinata and Kiba with Akamaru looked at Naruto who didn't try to respond to the question. They let the three elder ones answer for them.

But instead of a question, Tsunade looked at the specialized team in front of her, "Go now." And the three jonins left in a hurry.

Naruto grunted, "Ne, baa-chan… Where are you sending them?"

Tsunade huffs, "Shouldn't you be going for your mission too?"

"But—"

"Maa, maa, Naruto." Kakashi interrupted. "You better keep going so you can get back in time for my crowning."

Naruto's eyes diverted to the silver haired jonin's. His breathing hitched as he was pulled to it so easily because damn it, it has been a while since he gets to look at the other man's eye this way.

"You'll make it, right?" Kakashi inquired.

Naruto could just see in his head of how gorgeous of a smile Kakashi must have been sporting now when he says it…and the dimples too. Realizing he had let himself wander to these thoughts again, he grunted and turned around, arms crossed against his chest, "Don't challenge me."

Kakashi only laughs and he gave a playful tender ruffling on the blond hair, "Ichiraku on the Rokudaime if you make it back on time."

And this drew a tiny smile on the jinchuriki's thin lips, a bursting amount of butterflies resurrecting on his stomach. "Count on that!" He said without looking at the male, "Sakura-chan! Konohamaru!" He called out at the two rushed towards him and off they go.

"Smooth, Kakashi…" Tsunade amusingly giggled.

Kakashi found himself holding on the stone wall beside him as he felt all his strengths depleting from the act alone. How he was all stressed out doing all the advances is understandable. He's not gonna mess up any further.

"Oh you're pathetic." Tsunade chuckled, finding this even amusing. It makes her want to stay a while longer in the village just to see where this one leads. Ah…Young hearts.

A/N: I actually think that they are progressing really well. Hahahha but the story as a whole hasn't reached the climax yet. Nearly there but…let's just see where it takes them. I already had chapters to 14 pre-summarized in a separate documents so I hope I don't stray away from that plot. So far so good…as planned.

Alright… who's up for smoldering smut? HAHA mmmkay..that's it. Good day!